New Zealand aquaculture industry to be restored

New Zealand's government has announced the aquaculture industry will be restored on new aquaculture governing rules when it reviews the Resource Management Act (RMA).

RMA said the aquaculture industry has a goal of earning a billion dollar a year by 2025 and the government is committed to helping it achieve this target.

The government said no new aquaculture space has been created since the aquaculture management was brought under the control of regional councils in 2004 as part of the RMA.

A bill to amend that legislation was introduced to the parliament earlier this year but has now lapsed and the Aquaculture New Zealand (ANZ) said the sector will continue to stagnate if the legislation does not proceed.

ANZ chief executive Mike Burrell said a number of obstacles have been identified in the current legislation, which does not allow experimental marine farming outside established aquaculture zones.

Burrell said they are looking at why there is not a single application under the new regime and added that the incentives are not there for councils, government or industry to make the investment in the planned changes.

He also said he is confident that the new government will be open to changing the legislation after a briefing to the minister has been very upfront about the non-functioning mandates.