eds Media Release: Government moves to fast-track finfish farming of concern
Tue 24 Aug 2010: eds Media Release: Government moves to fast-track finfish farming of concern
"The cabinet decisions on aquaculture raise serious concerns about pollution of our coastal waters," said EDS Senior Policy Analyst Raewyn Peart. Cabinet has endorsed proposals by Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Phil Heatley, to unilaterally change the Tasman and Waikato regional coastal plans. The plans currently restrict aquaculture to shellfish species and legislation is proposed to remove this restriction.
"The plan changes will not undergo any environmental scrutiny or public submission process under the Resource Management Act. "This is of concern, because finfish farming can have significant impacts on the marine environment.
"Most farmed finfish are top-end carnivores which are fed on pellets derived from wild fish stocks. It usually takes between four and six tonnes of wild fish to produce one tonne of farmed fish. This poor conversion rate is of considerable concern when wild fisheries and marine ecosystems are already under considerable pressure.
"Finfish farming also results in the deposition of uneaten feed and faeces into the immediate marine environment, and can necessitate the use of toxic chemicals to treat parasites and disease. Escaped farmed fish can negatively impact on wild populations through the spread of disease, inter-breeding and competition. Finfish farms are also often visually intrusive because of the use of high predator-control nets.
"The expansion of finfish farming into new areas therefore requires careful assessment. This is best undertaken through the planning process where the potential cumulative effects can be fully assessed. The public also needs to have the opportunity to be heard.
"The government needs to take a step back, and let those planning processes run their course, rather than legislating in favour of one activity in the marine environment," concluded Ms Peart
More: Raewyn Peart 021 613 379 or 09 815 6082
