Named Ahumoana a Toi, the laboratory facility, was opened by Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Phil Heatley yesterday afternoon.
Bay of Plenty Times reports that, among the 100 guests were local dignitaries, national research entities, aquaculture industries and iwi representatives.
Launched to meet a growing need in training and education in aquaculture and animal production, the centre is being developed in tandem with Bay of Plenty's regional aquaculture strategy. A key goal of the New Zealand aquaculture strategy is to build a sustainable $1 billion industry by 2025.
The Bay of Plenty is already undergoing exciting developments in this field.
Chinese company Oriental Ocean is working with the polytechnic and the Cawthron Institute to provide key expertise and advice on setting up for the first trial of sea cucumbers in Opotiki.
Those initial trials will be supported by aquaculture researchers at Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, using the campus' facility to supply juvenile sea cucumbers.
Oriental Ocean is one of the largest aquaculture corporations in China.
Centre To Fuel Growth In Aquaculture
NEW ZEALAND - A goal of the NZ strategy is to build a $1 billion industry. A new aquaculture centre at Bay of Plenty Polytechnic has officially opened and will help fuel a growing push by local councils and industry players to harvest the ocean's bounty.
