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A Maori aquaculture veteran says iwi should be investigating new species as they look to develop the 20 percent of new aquaculture space they are due under the Maori commercial aquaculture settlement.
The Maori fisheries settlement trust Te Ohu Kaimoana is holding an aquaculture conference in Auckland today ahead of its annual meeting on Wednesday.
Harry Mikaere says Maori have not been as quick as he would have like to get into marine farming, although they do have a presence in Te Waipounamu, Tai Tokerau and his own Hauraki area.
He says Te Ohu Kaimoana will report on the work it has done to identify suitable areas for aquaculture, and the wider work it is doing with rest of the industry and the Ministry for Primary Industries on new species.
"We understand that the core business of mussel, salmon and oysters is forever going to be where it is but in terms of that we need to expand our horizons around what are the new species coming on and I think this offers great challenges and great benefits to all our people who have an interest in Tangaroa," Mr Mikaere says.
Projections indicate aquaculture will be an increasingly important source of protein for the world in the future.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH HARRY MIKAERE CLICK ON THE LINK
http://www.waateanews.com/play_podcast?podlink=Mjc0NDc=
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