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Aquaculture

Aquaculture is growing, having doubled its turnover in the last decade.

Aquaculture contributes an estimated $20 million annually to the economy of the region and directly employs more than 300 people. Aquaculture is growing, having doubled its turnover in the last decade.

Whangarei is proud to be home to New Zealand’s largest aquaculture facility, Bream Bay Aquaculture Park. This is NIWA’s research centre located 20 minutes’ drive south of Whangarei. The Bream Bay facility was established to focus on several new species including kingfish, snapper, seahorses, eels and oysters.

A unique feature of this facility is the way in which industry and NIWA work closely together on developing new and innovative production methods. The Bream Bay Aquaculture Research Park has taken the first step in developing into a cluster concept with marine farmers by allowing collocation of a commercial paua farm, OceaNZ Blue Ltd. This is New Zealand’s largest Paua / Abalone farm and was established for four and a half years ago. OceaNZ Blue spawns and settles 150,000 Abalone monthly and is positioning itself to increase production. OceaNZ Blue supplies Abalone to international markets in the 85 to 105mm size range, and specialise in canned (6 Abalone per can - 210 grams) and 85 to 95 mm cryogenically frozen Abalone. The Abalone are frozen only minutes after they have been removed from the grow-out trays in the on-site processing facility. The facilty is currently expanding to significantly increase production.

The potential for further development is excellent as the north has a very good range of growing conditions, good existing infrastructure, good candidate species, established industry and availability of labour.

Maori have traditionally been extensive stakeholders in aquaculture, and investment continues to assist Maori in further utilising aquaculture to strengthen their economic base.

The major challenges faced by the sector in going forward are negative public attitudes on the establishment of off-shore fishfarming and a difficult regulatory environment at both regional and central level.

An overview of the potential for the development of aquaculture in Northland, along with assessments of best-performing species for commercial development in Northland are available.

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