September 25, 2008

The Aquaculture Legislation Amendment Bill passed on Wednesday (September 24, 2008) will improve the operation and development of New Zealand's aquaculture industry, according to Environment Minister Trevor Mallard.

Mallard said the bill clarifies the policy intent of the aquaculture reforms by ensuring that applications for the occupation of the coastal marine area for aquaculture activities cannot be made unless they relate to aquaculture management areas in operative regional coastal plans.

"By correcting problems with the current law and improving operation for businesses, iwi and local government, the aquaculture industry will be better placed to grow and contribute to New Zealand's economic growth," Mallard said.

According to Mallard, a second amendment bill will have its first reading in Parliament later this week. This second bill will amend legislation to facilitate the creation of new aquaculture management areas, address issues relating to invited private plan changes, enable experimental aquaculture, provide for aquaculture agreements in transitional processes under the old Fisheries legislation, support environmental monitoring and other technical amendments relating to the 2004 aquaculture reforms.

The bill will also give certainty to the invited private plan change (IPPC) process to progress the development of aquaculture management areas.

New Zealand's aquaculture industry, worth over US$300 million, is the fastest growing sector of the country's seafood industry.