Regional Aquaculture Forum 2007

The second Bay of Plenty Regional Aquaculture forum was held on the 26th October 2007.  40 people enjoyed sea food and sunshine on the deck at Whakatane and aspects of aquaculture were discussed throughout the day.  The key messages from the day were:

• Iwi will be a major player in aquaculture
  
  
• There is keen interest from the research sector to set up offshore farming research facilities in the near future with the Bay of Plenty showing a lot of growing potential
  
  
• There is a strong willingness to form regional partnerships to work together to develop aquaculture
  
  
• Other points raised include the formation of the Blue Horizon document which has been released by NZ Government to:
  • Maximise economic benefits
  • Provide Stewardship
  • Promote innovation
  • Promote Maori participation
  • Promote good governance
    
  
  
• The development of the contestable aquaculture planning fund, which is administered by MfE.  The fund is available to regional councils and unitary authorities to provide for new sustainable aquaculture initiatives in their regions.  There is $2 million available over five years and funding rounds are annual. 
  
  
• New Zealand has been following global trend, with aquaculture production increasing annually.  The comparative advantages of aquaculture in NZ are:
  1. Our isolation,
  2. Our water quality and environmental management systems and,
  3. That only 0.2 % of coastal water space is used to produce $320 million of aquaculture products. 
  
  
• The Takutai Trust has been set up to assist iwi manage the percentage or aquaculture space  they will be allocated through legislation
  
  
• There should be early engagement between marine farming/industry ventures and local iwi

Here are copies of the speeches and presentations given at the forum:

AMA – Environment Bay of Plenty Projects Re-cap - Aileen Lawrie (Senior Environmental Planner, Environment Bay of Plenty)

National aquaculture position statement - Kevin Curry (Ministry for the Environment)

An Introduction to Aquaculture New Zealand - Mike Burrell (AQNZ)

Opportunities in Aquaculture for Iwi - Craig Lawson (Te Ohu Kaimoana)

Offshore Aquaculture Long term Possibilities - Kevin Heasman (Cawthron)

Opotiki Harbour Development - Mayor John Forbes (Opotiki District Council)

Where to from here?

It is hoped that the Regional Aquaculture Forum will be an annual event to keep up-to-date with what’s happening with aquaculture in the Bay. 

We expect aquaculture to be big in the bay but accept it will be in the long-term.  Our doors remain open!

On 5 December 2006, over 80 people gathered at Environment Bay of Plenty to hear about and discuss the development of aquaculture in the Bay of Plenty.  It was a highly successful day.  The key messages from the day were:

• There is strong local government support for developing the aquaculture industry in the eastern Bay of Plenty.

• The research indicates offshore aquaculture will be environmentally sustainable.

• It is uncertain what future species and farming methods will be farmed, although it was suggested that we should learn from the past and move towards high value/low volume species. 

• Eastern Sea Farms (Opotiki mussel farm applicant) is keen to see other interests using their ‘space’ for aquaculture.

• Te Puni Kokiri are eager to assist iwi in being involved in the Aquaculture Management Area (AMA) planning process and in proposed aquaculture developments.

• Te Ohu Kaimoana want to work with iwi to allocate aquaculture settlement assets.

• The AMA planning process is complex

• There is a strong willingness to work together to develop aquaculture

Here are copies of the speeches and presentations given at the forum:

Hon Trevor Mallards speech

Environment Bay of Plenty Aquaculture Management Area Project (science, sustainability, uses and values) – Aileen Lawrie (Senior Environmental Planner, Environment Bay of Plenty)
 
The New Zealand aquaculture industry – Peter Vitasovich (Chair, New Zealand Mussel Industry Council)
 
Maori and aquaculture – Fred Cookson (Alternate Director, Te Ohu Kai Moana Trustee Ltd.  Te Arawa - Ngati Uenukukopako and Ngati Kahungunu)

Eastern Bay of Plenty’s Economic Transformation: Infrastructure support for Aquaculture – Mayor John Forbes (Opotiki District Council)

Offshore production systems – Kevin Heasman (Aquaculture Scientist, Cawthron)

Experimental aquaculture, species and land based opportunities – Dr Andrew Jeffs, (General Manager - Aquaculture & Marine Biotechnology, NIWA)

Aquaculture in the Bay of Plenty - the Aquaculture Settlement – Kirsty Woods, (Manager of Policy and Fisheries Development, Te Ohu Kaimoana)

Government support for Maori participation – Louisa Cooper (Natural Resources Team,Te Puni Kokiri)

Aquaculture planning – Ben Lee (Environmental Planner, Environment Bay of Plenty)

Attendees

List of those that attended the forum and their contact details.

News Flash

On the 7 December the Minister for the Environment, David Benson Pope has announced a $2.9m contestable fund to help regional councils plan for aquaculture. Environment Bay of Plenty commends the government on this move to partner in the implementation of the aquaculture legislation.

Minister's press release

Where to from here?

It is hoped that the Regional Aquaculture Forum will be ongoing, and we invite expressions of interest, along with ideas about how it should be run.

Further in-depth discussions will be had with industry and those with offshore market expertise to flesh out what the future demands for space is likely to be.

Useful Links

Here are links to websites for a range of offshore aquaculture systems (kindly provided by Kevin Heasman from Cawthron)

Refamed cages - http://www.refamed.com/
 
Dunlop cages - http://www.bonnarengltd.ie/marine.htm
 
Ocean Globe - http://www.byks.no/Artikkel.asp?AId=34&back=1&MId1=18&MId2=44
 
Oceanspar cages -  http://www.oceanspar.com/products.htm
 
Polarcirkel - http://www.helgelandplast.no/
 
Farm Ocean - http://www.farmocean.se/indexA.htm
 
Aqualine - http://www.aqualine.no/produkter/84/17?set_lang=en

Cards Aqua cages – http://www.cardsaqua.com/examples/ex3/pr_cages.php
 
Ocean flex - http://www.fusionmarine.com/cages_oceanflex.htm 

For more information

If you have any questions on the forum or aquaculture in the Bay of Plenty in general, please phone 0800 ENV BOP (368 267).  Alternatively you can contact us by fax on 0800 ENV FAX (368 329), or by emailing us at info@envbop.govt.nz.