New surf clam fishery excites iwi
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| Ngati Kahungunu director Lester White shows off the spoils from the new clam fishery. |
“They're Kahungunu Gold,” says Lester White of the Hawke's Bay surf clams.
Lester is a director on the Ngati Kahungunu Asset Holding Company, which is responsible for the protection and growth of the Iwi's fisheries assets. He believes a new multi-million dollar surf clam fishery out of Hawke Bay looks set to becoming a popular fishery. Lester believes surf clams may become the new “Bluff oyster” equivalent as far as taste sensation goes.
Seven species of surf clams including deepwater tuatua have been brought into the Quota Management System, with the first of the regional fish stocks to be harvested off Hawke's Bay.
When new species are brought into the QMS, Maori automatically receive 20 percent of the quota through the long-standing Sealord Deal. As surf clams are an inshore fishery, all of the 20 percent is allocated to coastal iwi through the allocation model of the Maori Fisheries Settlement. This means that Ngati Kahungunu is set to benefit from this new growing fishery.
“Surf clams are an extremely meaty shellfish,” explains Lester. “In terms of taste, they are not as strong as mussels and have a texture of something closer to a scallop than an oyster.”
“For people who want a smooth, rich tasting shellfish, they'll be a great attraction,” he says.
The remaining 80 percent of the quota of each species has been snapped up by five companies, including Aotearoa Fisheries Limited. And those five players have joined forces to harvest and promote the shellfish through a company called Surfco.
The company estimates that each kilometre of the coastline could yield up to 16 tonnes of clams a year.
The interim chairman of Surfco, Tony Craig, says the fishery is an excellent economic development opportunity for the region and could add yet another sought-after taste for the mainly wine-growing region.
“This is just another feather in the Hawke's Bay cap of great food and wine,” he says. “Surf clams are an extremely exciting new product and we want to get New Zealand as excited about this product as we are.”
From a fisheries management perspective, Tony is also excited by the fact the fishery is driven by research and a market approach. “The overall philosophy of this fishery is that it will be driven by scientific research and a market-driven approach. We'll fish to the market needs, but only to what the research tells us is sustainable,” he says.
The current market for surf clams has been developed on about 200 tonnes being harvested annually out of Cloudy Bay near Blenheim and from Pegasus Bay in Canterbury. But with the opening of the Hawke Bay fishery, up to 1000 tonnes could be added to the current market.
The new growth and increase in quota should provide domestic and international marketing opportunities, notably in Hong Kong and China. As new players in the international clam market, he says Surfco is well positioned to take advantage of opportunities through marketing lines already developed by existing shareholders in the new company.
“We're bringing a group of shareholders together and using their expertise to work together on harvesting technology, processing and marketing opportunities and collectively managing the seven species of surf clams,” Tony says.
Significant research will begin in November before full harvesting commences. Surfco has contracted NIWA to conduct a biomass survey and is working with the Hawke's Bay District Health Board to conduct a sanitation survey, which looks at water quality and shellfish health analysis. The biomass survey will assist with the setting of sustainable catch quotas
He admits that the learning curve for some shareholders, AFL included, is steep. “From the position of knowing absolutely nothing about the fishery, we took a look when the Crown put it up for tender last year. From the research and analysis we did, it became clear this fishery has huge potential, and we're now looking forward to being part of developing that,” Tony says.
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Protecting Māori fisheries assets for future generations