New Aquaculture Settlement Areas set aside for Southland's economy growth.
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced the establishment of five new Aquaculture Settlement Areas (ASAs) to support the development of aquaculture in Southland. The collective 8787ha area includes spaces suitable for salmon, mussel, and seaweed farming. Located offshore from Port Pegasus, Rarotoka South, Rarotoka North, Ruapuke, and Port Adventure.
The Coalition Government aims to make New Zealand's aquaculture a $3 billion industry by 2035, with demand internationally for the country's products. Minister Jones is committed to maximising growth by cutting red tape and roadblocks. The current fishing within the ASAs will be allowed to continue while exploration takes place, subject to the resource consent process.
Ngāi Tahu will assess their potential in these areas alongside the Crown, with any space taken forward for development still requiring approval. The establishment of ASAs was part of legislation delivering iwi 20 percent of new aquaculture space created and forecast since 2004.