June 20, 2024
Permit extension boost for aquaculture businesses
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Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says Māori fishing interests need to look to grow more fish rather than rely on wild stocks.
The Green Party is objecting to the Government extending existing aquaculture permits by up to 20 years.
Mr Jones says the changes are modest, and a large proportion of the affcted marine farms are owned by Maori and iwi interests.
“They understand the importance of running a tidy operation because if you create doubt in the minds of customers as to whether or not your seafood is edible, then your business will go broke very quickly, so I would rather see the time, money, delay associated with consented invested by the owners back into their businesses,” he says.
Shane Jones says done right, aquaculture could deliver billions of dollars to the New Zealand econmy.
Last year the aquaculture generated $575 million in export revenue and employed 3225 people.