[ad_1]
Nelson mussel farmer Johnny Arbuckle welcomed the change.
photo: supply
Industry leaders say the 20-year extension of marine licences will bring security to the aquaculture sector, despite concerns that it will entrench outdated environmental conditions.
this Resource Management (Extension of Validity Period of Coastal Marine Farm Permits) Amendment Act The bill, which passed parliament this week, would allow licenses for marine farms to be valid for an additional 20 years, but not beyond 2050.
The proposal is opposed by Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori over environmental concerns.
Aquaculture New Zealand chief executive Gary Hooper said the extension would provide security for the current 1200 ocean farms, ensuring they could continue to operate for another twenty years.
“The certainty it provides enables the industry to move forward with confidence. Confidence to invest in more productive endeavours, to invest in resilience and, more importantly, to invest in growth.”
He said decades of bureaucracy and the cost of reapplying for resource consents had frustrated the industry.
Aquaculture New Zealand estimates millions of dollars will be spent this year renewing licences for nearly 300 marine farms.
“There are farms at risk (their licences not being renewed) that are strategically important hatcheries, especially for our mussel industry. There are probably dozens of other farms at risk because of the loss of hatcheries.”
Johnny Arbuckle, a mussel farmer in Nelson, said the contract extension gives him two decades of job security.
He said there were concerns that the farm’s licence to nurse juvenile fish would not be renewed, ceasing year-round operations.
“I pretty much still have a job and have had it for over 20 years. It’s just one of those things you never have to fight. You’re always fighting people, always arguing with people about why (ocean farms) should exist.
“I have a young family… the certainty behind this is just too great.”
There are currently around 1200 marine farms in New Zealand.
photo: supply
However, some are concerned that the law does not take into account changes in the environment.
Environmental Protection Society chief executive Gary Taylor said the government had gone beyond the scope of work required of councils to renew their licences.
He said the extension applies to some older marine permits where environmental conditions are not appropriate.
“Some of this land existed before the Resource Management Act came into effect. To lock this land in poor conditions for another 20 years is simply ridiculous.
“We should update these things and bring them up to date and make sure that marine aquaculture — which is a good thing in itself — doesn’t harm the environment.”
He said the old consent forms were not equipped to meet future environmental challenges.
“We have always thought that a five-year extension might be reasonable, to allow things to settle down and give us a clearer picture of the future of the industry and where it should be positioned.
“Twenty years is a whole generation’s time, and a lot can change in that time, especially because of climate change.”
But Hooper said the industry already had appropriate environmental checks in place.
“By far the vast majority of consents come with consent conditions, very detailed and up to date consent conditions,” he said.
“The environmental impacts of marine farming – and remember, we’ve been doing it for decades – those impacts are well known and understood. Internationally, we are recognised for our environmental performance.”
[ad_2]
Source link
