Aquaculture plans worry green groups

Plans to kick-start New Zealand fish farming are too flexible and risk harming sensitive marine areas, environmental groups say.

The Fisheries Ministry has received 223 submissions on recommendations designed to boost the aquaculture industry.

The proposals have drawn support from the industry, commercial aquaculture groups and iwi, with opposition mainly coming from environmental groups and recreational fishermen.

However, many say they are lacking in crucial details.

Written by a review group, the 57 proposals for reform include a proposal to remove the ban on aquaculture outside existing aquaculture areas.

Environmental Defence Society senior analyst Raewyn Peart said the proposals would not address underlying weaknesses in marine management systems.

Instead of balancing the needs of all marine users with protecting the environment, Ms Peart said the proposals "pushed the boundaries" by focusing on aquaculture at the expense of others.

Of particular concern was the recommendation that coastal plans were flexible enough to allow for species that fed themselves and those that required supplementary feed.

As the two different feeding methods had vastly different environmental effects, Ms Peart said stricter controls were needed.

While shellfish fed themselves from plankton from the sea, fin fish required supplementary feeding from fish that may have not been caught sustainably, and food waste could make the seafloor uninhabitable for some species.

Forest and Bird and North Island conservation manager Mark Bellingham also said aquaculture could cause significant problems for sensitive environments. If further space was needed for aquaculture, plans should take into account recreational users and marine mammal migration routes.

Aquaculture New Zealand chief executive Mike Burrell said the industry would "never compromise" on environmental issues, because it was essential to protect the marine space for the growth of the industry.

He supported the reforms but there was still room for improving the recommendations so the growth of the industry was carefully managed.

Recreational Fishing Council president Geoff Rowling said the proposals would unfairly give commercial operators exclusive occupancy of sea space.

Federated Farmers said the suggested legislative changes were too focused on marine species.

Vice-president Donald Aubrey said they ignored the commercial potential of freshwater species such as whitebait, freshwater mussels and freshwater crayfish.

Proposed changes to legislation covering aquaculture will go to Cabinet next month.

- © Fairfax NZ News