Aquaculture development in Northland
The Northland Regional Council is changing its regional coastal plan to enable aquaculture to be developed in the region under the 2004 aquaculture amendments to the Resource Management Act.
Over the last few months, the Takutai Trust has been working with iwi in Tai Tokerau, the Northland Regional Council and central government officials to identify the most appropriate way to provide for aquaculture in Northland. The Northland Regional Council is the first council to take the initiative and develop a plan under the new legislation.
The new aquaculture law came about after a four-year moratorium on new space for marine farming after fears of a “gold rush” for water space. Under the law, aquaculture is prohibited outside of “aquaculture management areas” or AMAs, which councils have the responsibility to create in their regional coastal plans.
Through the Aquaculture Settlement, implemented as part of the new aquaculture legislation, Maori receive 20 percent of an AMA once it has been established.
The council intends to invite requests from interested parties who wish to develop aquaculture management areas in the region.
Te Ohu Kaimoana fisheries and policy development manager Kirsty Woods says it is encouraging that Northland has moved forward in developing a plan for AMAs, as many were becoming concerned that they would receive nothing out of the settlement with the Crown.
“There's generally the view that councils are dragging their heels on establishing areas for AMAs and therefore restricting iwis' ability to take advantage of current demand for aquaculture,” she says.
An objective of the council is to ensure its regional coastal plan provides clear guidance to those who wish to establish AMAs through privately funded plan changes.
Kirsty said that Northland iwi are developing a collective strategy for aquaculture to assist them all to participate in the planning process. “The values and aspirations of iwi and hapu need to be taken into account when aquaculture management areas are being established. Local iwi receive 20 percent of an AMA once established so there's certainly a good incentive to be a part of the whole process.”
She said that the Takutai Trust and other agencies were working to support iwi as they develop their strategy.
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