Aquaculture development in Southland receives $2.2 million funding.
The Coalition Government has announced a $2.2 million investment from the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) to support the development of an aquaculture centre of excellence at Ocean Beach near Bluff, in Southland. The funding will be used by South Island Industrial Fund Ltd towards its $6.3m project to upgrade infrastructure at the site.
The upgrades aim to enable expansion and provide shared services for more businesses, including farming pods, training and research facilities, accommodation, and tourism facilities. According to Regional Development Minister Shane Jones, Ocean Beach is expected to become a world-class aquaculture centre, providing emerging businesses with the necessary infrastructure to produce, distribute, and export their products.
The investment is part of the Coalition Government's goal to reach $3 billion in sales by 2035 and supports Southland's priority in aquaculture development. Minister Jones announced the funding at Ocean Beach and will continue his visit, engaging with local stakeholders at the Southland Regional Growth Summit tomorrow.