Successful Aquaculture Symposium In Wellington

Press Release by NZ Aquaculture Council, 11 April 2005

Aquaculture industry leaders met in Wellington on Tuesday (5 April 2005) with key government agencies* and regional councils in a forum hosted by the Ministry of Fisheries.

Forum participants identified key opportunities and barriers to growth and innovation across the aquaculture sector and supported the development of a Sector Strategy to maximise the potential contribution of aquaculture to New Zealand's communities, economy and environment. Aquaculture already produces over one third of the world's seafood and is growing at 15% per annum.

The symposium was addressed by Hon Jim Anderton, Minister of Economic Development who applauded aquaculture efforts to date and its important potential economic impact and added that the government is committed to its success. Hon David Benson-Pope, who as Minister of Fisheries is responsible for the recent Aquaculture Law Reforms, commended the industry and Government working together in the Sector Strategy and also predicted aquaculture generating significant new employment and economic benefits in regional areas.

Callum McCallum, Chair of the NZ Aquaculture Council, praised yesterday's proceedings. "This is the first occasion where Aquaculture has had such a forum. The positive support for Aquaculture, not just from the Ministers but also from the wide range of Officials and Councils who contributed is hugely reassuring for our Industry. We can now move forward confidently to planning for NZ Aquaculture growing an even greater contribution of quality farmed seafood from NZ's supreme water environment," said Mr McCallum.

"There is a big task ahead of us to put the right sector strategies in place and we welcome the support of Government in doing so. Challenges also remain, particularly for Regional Authorities who are now tasked with managing creation of new Aquaculture (Management) Areas and we recognise the difficulties they face with limited resources and funding. We will provide significant support in this process to ensure world leading procedures benefit all stakeholders including other coastal users and the public" "I also wish to pay tribute to the facilitator of yesterday's symposium, Dr John Glaister the new CEO of the Ministry of Fisheries, who shares our vision of being able to tap the huge benefits that are available for New Zealand through aquaculture," concluded Mr McCallum.

Background
* Government agencies re paragraph 1 above are the Ministries of; Fisheries, Economic Development and the Environment plus New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and the Department of Conservation.

Further Background
The NZ Aquaculture Council (Inc.) represents the; NZ Mussel Industry Council Ltd, NZ Oyster Industry Association Inc, NZ Salmon Farmers Association Inc and the NZ Abalone Farmers Association Inc - on generic aquaculture issues including property rights, law reform and implementation, cost recovery, training, and water quality.

NZ has some 1250 Aquaculture farms, of which 100 are landbased.

For 2003, the aquaculture industry's sales were NZ$285 million (estimated), including $225M of exports. Twenty years ago annual sales were NZ$19 million.

The Council is working to develop an aquaculture industry which, by 2020, will earn New Zealand annual export sales alone of more than one billion dollars - reflecting the broader species base now steadily being established, innovation, Government support and new water space.