Aquaculture
Aquaculture contributes an estimated $20 million annually to the Northland economy and directly employs more than 300 people.
Facts
Aquaculture currently contributes an estimated $20 million annually to the Northland economy and directly employs around 300 people.
Northland is home to New Zealand's largest facility for marine aquaculture research and development, the NIWA Aquaculture and Biotechnology Centre, at Bream Bay near Whangarei.
HISTORY
Maori have traditionally been extensive stakeholders in aquaculture, and investment continues to assist Maori in further utilising aquaculture to strengthen their economic base.
POTENTIAL
The potential for further development is excellent as Northland has a very good range of growing conditions, good existing infrastructure, good candidate species, established industry and availability of labour.
Investigations, led by the Ministry for the Environment, into finfish and oyster farming opportunities, the identification of some of the best locations for aquaculture on the basis of their productive potential, and assessments of environmental effects, will be complete in late 2011.
The Northland Regional Council will evaluate the identified, and other viable sites for their potential as marine farms.
CHALLENGES
The major challenges faced by the sector in going forward are negative public attitudes on the establishment of off-shore fishfarming and a difficult regulatory environment at both regional and central level.
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