New Zealand invests $12 million to facilitate mussel farming expansion

On the 9th June the New Zealand government announced a $19.95 million NZD ($12.96 million USD) investment from their provincial growth fund (PGF) which will expand the mussel farming operation at Sugarloaf Wharf in the Coromandel.

New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters said that the aquaculture sector in the Thames-Coromandel region contributes more than $70 million NZD ($45.45 million USD) and provides 350 jobs, it is said that this expansion will increase farming capacity by almost 20,000 tonnes.
 

Image credit: Ty Nigh on Flickr
(CC BY 2.0)

'The sector has long been significantly constrained by a lack of capacity at Sugarloaf Wharf, which handles 90 per cent of the North Island's mussel production," commented Mr Peters. "The new wharf, Te Ariki Tahi Sugarloaf, will accommodate up to 42,000 tonnes of mussels a year, to meet increased demand from recently granted consents that have extended mussel farming space in the Hauraki Gulf by 775 hectares"

The funding will build an extended, raised wharf platform to account for rising sea levels, with four new berths to allow for increased commercial activity and a separate facility for launching recreational boats.

According to Mr Peters the construction work will provide 25 jobs short term, and enable around an additional 170 new aquaculture jobs over time.

The Aquaculturists

---