Fishers launch research venture

Quota restrictions have forced the seafood industry to examine how science can add value to the catch.

The Seafood Industry Council (Seafic) has launched a new research company - Seafood Innovations - and plans to hand out $4 million worth of research grants in the year from July 1.

Council chief executive Owen Symmans said the idea had been talked about for some time but there had finally been a "meeting of minds".

"By fishing more we can't get more quota so we actually have to find how we can return an increasing dollar out of the quota we have," Symmans said.

The new company is 80 per cent owned by Seafic and 20 per cent by Crown-owned enterprise Crop and Food Research.

The Government provided 50 per cent of the seed funding via the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology while a consortium of seafood industry participants provided the rest.

The company will act as a funder of research and industry organisations.

Symmans said the venture was a "shining example of how Government, industry and science can work in partnership".

Research projects are expected to include processing and packaging efficiencies, genetic improvement of farming stock, upgrading of lower valued species, sustainability of organic farms and pharmaceuticals research.

"The industry has a new mindset that goes beyond valuing only a fillet to one which sees possibilities of adding value by utilising every part of the fish and developing new products that are appealing to customers and consumers around the world."

Symmans said more than half the body of a fish is currently made into fish-meal or thrown away.

"We don't know much about about the product or ... the waste product in terms of what their value may be."

Symmans said research into fish enzymes may lead to fish-based health products.

"We all know that omega 3 fatty acids are hugely important for health and fish is a major provider of those. Probably there's other potential and possibilities."

Symmans said the move will put the seafood industry on a similar footing to other primary sectors such as dairy and meat.

"You've just got to look at the track record of other primary sectors. There's no reason why the seafood industry can't achieve the same outcomes."

Crop and Food Research chief executive Paul Tocker said a major spin-off from innovation would be the sharing of knowledge and practical experience.

"It is foreseeable that universities working with research institutes will help take the industry from a simple 'catch, pack and ship' value-added approach to utilisation of well-characterised fish components for food health and industrial applications," Tocker said.

About 90 per cent of New Zealand's seafood produce is exported.

Export earnings for 2003-2004 fell slightly to $1.2 billion.

Seafic chairman Dave Sharp said the formation of Seafood Innovations was a highlight after a year that was "at times disappointing".