Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Aquaculture New Zealand Conference 2018

by Peter Parker, Oceania representative, International Aquafeed

The NZ Aquaculture Conference took place on September 26-27, 2018 at the Marlborough Convention Centre in Blenheim, New Zealand. The event was organised by Aquaculture New Zealand, an organisation primarily funded through an industry levy. The chief role of the organisation is the implementation of an industry strategy which aims to see the sector grow to earn NZD $1 billion annually by 2025.

Over 500 people from all corners of the sector came together to help realise the tremendous opportunity aquaculture offers to grow vibrant communities by sharing our waters to sustainably farm amazing seafood.
 


The two-day show, comprising of a technical and a conference day, gathered authorities from across a spectrum of disciplines that intersect our industry; including climate change, storytelling, community representatives, conservationists and international industry experts, all of which shared their ideas and knowledge to explore how our industry can help build a sustainable and prosperous future for New Zealand.

According to figures provided by Aquaculture New Zealand, it is estimated that in 2017 the industry was valued at NZD $612 million ($420 million USD). Whilst the range of species produced by New Zealand’s aquaculture industry is increasing, it is primarily composed of three species; Greenshell™ mussels (Perna canaliculus) NZD $348 million, King Salmon (Chinook salmon) NZD $232 million, and pacific oysters NZD $32 million.

Marlborough, the heart of New Zealand aquaculture
This year, the show relocated from Nelson to Blenheim, a town located in the Marlborough region in the north-eastern tip of New Zealand’s South Island. Blenheim is often in the running for the sunniest town in New Zealand and it delivered with warm sunrays for the duration of the event.

The event organisers commented that the move was to bring the show back to a central point of New Zealand aquaculture where mussel farming began almost 40 years ago.

According to the Marlborough District Council, the sheltered bays and clean waters of the Marlborough Sounds evoke the rich history of mussel farming, which has now been expanded to include salmon, oysters, paua and seaweed. With over 600 aquaculture farms, the Marlborough Sounds are responsible for 80 percent of the country’s farmed seafood. This is made up of an average 65,000 tonnes of mussels and about 6000 tonnes of salmon harvested per year.


Read more HERE.

The Aquaculturists
This blog is maintained by The Aquaculturists staff and is supported by the
magazine International Aquafeed which is published by
Perendale Publishers Ltd

For additional daily news from aquaculture around the world: aquaculture-news

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