Fisheries

Aquaculture can play a role in fisheries enhancement. For example, the salmon industry provides smolt to recreational fisheries and marine farmers provide pāua to enhance recreational, customary and commercial pāua fisheries. Such enhancement could also be possible in the future, should hāpuku, kingfish and other native species become farmed. A case study on the way the aquaculture industry is helping to foster wild fisheries is provided at the end of this section.

The effects of proposed marine farm areas on fishing are assessed through the undue adverse effects test (UAE test) which is undertaken by the Ministry for Primary Industries. ¹⁶⁹⁷  A proposed marine farm cannot proceed if it would have ‘undue’ adverse effects on recreational or customary fishing, or commercial fishing for non-QMS stocks. In addition, unless an aquaculture agreement or compensation declaration is registered, a proposed marine farm cannot proceed if it would have ‘undue’ adverse effects on commercial fishing for QMS stocks. The farm can still go ahead by making a negotiated aquaculture agreement. An agreement will involve the applicant giving compensation to commercial fishers (fish quota owners). More information regarding these agreements can be found here

Last updated at 2:25PM on February 2, 2018