Three recent studies into Bay of Plenty aquaculture have confirmed the viability of industry growth, particularly with regard to greenshell mussels.
The studies, commissioned by the Bay of Connections Regional Aquaculture Organisation (RAO), looked at the health benefits and breeding of greenshell mussels in the Bay, as well as the biosecurity risks facing aquaculture in the region.
New Zealand aquaculture generates $350 million-$400 million in annual sales, two-thirds of it coming from exports.
The Bay of Connections, which is the economic development strategy for the wider Bay of Plenty, aims to grow a Bay aquaculture industry with export sales of $250 million by 2025.
RAO chairman Graeme Coates said a highlight of the reports was that they showed no major threats to the growth of aquaculture in the Bay of Plenty: "Although there were risks identified, they also revealed how to combat them and no major threats to future growth were found."