Ten mussel farms approved for the South Island

by www.stuff.co.nz on 18 Dec 2009
A huge, open-sea 'experimental' mussel farm off the coast of Canterbury has been given the green light.

The Ministry of Fisheries' approval is the culmination of 10 years of research and consultation by the joint- venture companies Ngai Tahu Fisheries, Marlborough Mussel Company, owned by Dunedin's Skeggs family, and Pegasus Bay Aquaculture.

The ministry yesterday announced approval for 10 marine farms in the South Island, including the 2695-hectare Pegasus Bay mussel farm 14 kilometres offshore from Woodend.

Approval has also been given for a 424ha mussel farm in Clifford Bay on Marlborough's east coast, 700 metres offshore.

The eight other marine farms are mostly extensions to Marlborough Sounds mussel farms.

The Government yesterday also signalled reform of aquaculture legislation that could open the door to farming of fin fish and other seafood.

Marlborough Mussel spokesman Merv Whipp said the aquaculture law changes were 'good news' for the industry.

The Pegasus Bay marine farm would be the first at sea, and the second largest in New Zealand, Whipp said.

Such mussel farming was 'experimental' in New Zealand, where mussels were typically grown in sheltered waters such as the Marlborough Sounds, he said.

Project consent conditions required reflectors and other devices to ensure the farm could be seen at sea. The Pegasus Bay farm would comprise four 515ha blocks, with 500-metre wide 'fairways' between each block for boat traffic.

The farm would be established in the next three to five years, and should produce 6000 tonnes of mussels a year.

The recent aquaculture taskforce report to Government had recommended allowing marine farming for more species.

Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley said yesterday the Government would consider submissions on the aquaculture report before putting recommended law changes before Cabinet next year.

Heatley said aquaculture had huge potential to generate economic growth.

If the aquaculture industry was going to achieve its $1 billion sales target by 2025, it needed 'more space more quickly', he said.

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