By WAYNE THOMPSON
Great Barrier Island's mussel farming industry is given no room to expand in the Auckland Regional Council's new plans for allowing business and pleasure to mix in public waters.
Only the island's existing farms appear among aquaculture management areas which the council intends to put out for public
comment this week.
The proposals also restrict marine farming at Kawau Island and in the oyster-rich Mahurangi Harbour and Matakana River in Rodney District.
In Great Barrier Island's case, the council says it is applying the development brakes because of concern over the cumulative effects on bays of more and more new farms.
The council says the island is well used for recreation and boating, and has an outstanding landscape that needs planning protection.
But Peter Vitasovich, of Greenshell New Zealand, said yesterday that placing limits at the island was a mistake and dealt a blow to hopes for the industry creating more jobs.
His company had planned to add a 6ha area to a 36ha Port Fitzroy farm.
He knew of four farmers wanting small blocks at the island. Small areas could be added without hindering other users of the waters.
"Marine farmers and other users could continue living in harmony."
News of management areas for the island was welcomed by the Auckland Yachting and Boating Association.
Spokesman Warwick Lee said anchorages were threatened by the spread of marine farms.
The president of the Oyster Farmers Association, Callum McCallum, said his company, Clevedon Coast Oysters, employed 35 staff and had the potential to double.
Management areas were a good idea where pleasure boats went in great numbers, he said, but there were areas of the Hauraki Gulf and Kaipara Harbour where boaties rarely went that could be used for marine farming.
The Firth of Thames has been left out of the proposals pending scientific studies on mussel farm effects on the snapper fishery and sea mammals.
Development of mussel and oyster farms is provided for in the management areas proposed in the Kaipara Harbour, Wairoa Bay near Clevedon, and at the eastern end of Waiheke Island and the island's Putiki Bay and Awaawaroa Bay.
Marine farming development will be confined to these areas once a national moratorium on new marine farming is lifted in 18 months. Outside of these areas, marine farming will be prohibited.
Regional councillor Ian Bradley said the council's direction provided for development in a manner that would not undermine the sustainability of fisheries, Treaty of Waitangi settlements, environmental integrity or the rights of the public to enjoy the marine heritage.
Further reading
nzherald.co.nz/environment
By WAYNE THOMPSON
Great Barrier Island's mussel farming industry is given no room to expand in the Auckland Regional Council's new plans for allowing business and pleasure to mix in public waters.
Only the island's existing farms appear among aquaculture management areas which the council intends to put out for public
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