Environment
Southland needs full support from Central Government to accelerate the growth of open ocean salmon farming following the announcement that the Tiwai Smelter is closing next year.
Mark O’Connor, chair of the Southland Aquaculture Working Group, says the Government urgently needs to consider passing special legislation to designate suitable open ocean aquaculture areas in coastal Southland.
“Sustainable aquaculture, particularly high-value open ocean salmon farming has been identified as Southland’s best near-term economic opportunity and now is the time for that opportunity to be realised as soon as possible.
“However, we do not have the luxury of time. Scaling aquaculture and achieving 400-500 jobs will take at least five years and scaling to 800 jobs within 10 years, so we need to work collaboratively and with great urgency.
“But aquaculture is also not a short-term fix and will not replace the 2000+ job losses from the closure of Tiwai next year.
“The Tiwai jobs must be secured for at least 5-10 years to enable the scaling of the aquaculture industry.”
Sanford’s land-based Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) Salmon Hatchery requires support from the Provincial Growth Fund, he says.
“It is also important industry and iwi are supported to prove new open ocean farming technology.”