Without major legislative change, New Zealand’s fledgling aquaculture industry will stagnate and have little chance of achieving its $1 billion revenue target by 2025, says TheNationalBusinessReview.
Headed up by former minister of fisheries, Doug Kidd, the TAG has until the end of September to provide its advice to fisheries minister Phil Heatley and environment minister Nick Smith.
According to the news organisation, the $400 million aquaculture industry is static with little room to move as laid down in 2004 with the aquaculture law reform.
Aquaculture NZ chairman Peter Vitasovich said the reform doesn’t provide a workable environment for the industry, but the short time frame allocated to the TAG is pleasing, because it prevents any further delays to addressing legislation holds back further development of the industry.
The Aquaculture Legislation Amendment Bill (No2) introduced by the previous government is continuing through to address some technical problems with the current industry regime, but it doesn’t address the big issues that remain as barriers.
Mr Vitasovich said an industry-wide goal of more than doubling its revenue by 2025 to $1 billion is unachievable unless changes to the legislation are made.
Legislative Change Needed for $1 Billion Target
NEW ZEALAND - Aquaculture New Zealand has welcomed the short time frame set down for the new Aquaculture Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to provide input to the industrys reform.
