More money for New Zealand aquaculture
While the Canadian government recently axed one of the few support programs for aquaculture, New Zealand today announced additional support for the realization of its 5 year Aquaculture Strategy that was announced this way last year;
In 2012 the Government adopted the Aquaculture Strategy and Five-year Action Plan. The strategy and action plan establishes a whole-of-government pathway to enable the aquaculture sector to grow. This strategy and action plan aligns with both the aquaculture industry’s strategy and the Ministry for Primary Industries’ 2030 Strategy, setting out how the government can support the growth ambitions established by the sector. It also complements existing government environmental and economic initiatives and upholds the Crown’s obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi. Through the strategy and action plan the government will support industry in achieving its goals while acting in the public interest to ensure an appropriate balance of economic, social, cultural and ecological values. Through the strategy and action plan the government will:
- implement the new aquaculture law and work with councils and the public to plan for sensible and sustainable future aquaculture growth in accordance with New Zealand’s laws and regulations;
- ensure the laws and frameworks governing the establishment and operation of marine and land-based aquaculture are effective and responsive, and enable industry investment;
- deliver on the Crown’s aquaculture settlement obligations to Māori and identify opportunities for improving Māori wellbeing though aquaculture development;
- build our knowledge of environmental effects and ensure a healthy aquatic environment;
- maintain and build our world-leading animal health and welfare, food safety, and biosecurity standards;
- encourage investment and adoption of innovation; and
- facilitate continued discussion between industry, government, Māori and the public as to how aquaculture should grow and be managed in New Zealand.
Today’s announcement provided details of the latest projects to receive financial support (1 NZ$ equals approximately € 0.65, US$ 0.85);
Five important projects focusing on aquaculture will benefit from the latest round of Sustainable Farming Fund grants, Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy has announced today. “New Zealand seafood is a premium product and it’s great to see groups looking to improve their production and value by developing aquaculture,” says Mr Guy.
The projects with funding are:
- Koura Aquaculture, by Wai-Koura South: $119,420
- Farming Premium Salmon, by the Salmon Improvement Group: $600,000
- Management of the GLM9 Greenlipped Mussel Spat Resource, by GML9 Advisory Group: $20,000
- Tuna (Shortfin-eel) Aquaculture, by Te Ohu Tiaki o Rangitane Te Ika a Mauri Trust (MIO): $600,000
- Aquaculture custom bacterial vaccines, by Aquaculture New Zealand: $115,686.
“Addressing information gaps is a focus for four of these projects. They will investigate how to reduce skeletal deformities in farmed salmon, develop best-practice guides for raising freshwater crayfish and manage the wild greenlipped mussel spat resource. “Importantly, the eel project will focus on learning more about young glass short-fin eels so we can raise them successfully and sustainably. “The other will focus on developing New Zealand’s capability, in this case to manufacture vaccines for Chinook salmon.”
The projects will commence 1 July 2013 and run for one to three years.
