Yachties join fight against marine farms

By CLAIRE TREVETT

The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron has joined a chorus of opposition from yachting groups to proposals for mussel and oyster farms in the Bay of Islands.

The squadron says Northland Regional Council's plans could double the size of marine farms in the popular boating destination, creating a navigator's nightmare and polluting the area.

In its draft map for future aquaculture development, the council has earmarked 204ha within the Bay of Islands for future mussel and oyster farms, on top of the 177ha already used.

The draft areas are found in Kerikeri Inlet, Te Puna Inlet, near Marsden Cross and Whale Bay, just south of Moturoa Island, Oronga Bay, Paroa Bay and Manawaora Bay.

The council says it is simply a starting point after talks with the aquaculture industry and iwi.

After extensive public meetings late last year, it plans a revised list about June and more consultation before the final version.

But the proposed locations have astonished Bill Endean, the commodore of the RNZYS.

He said the farms could trip up yachties trying to navigate in the bay and would deprive yachties of some of their safest anchorages.

"It's an age-old contest between commercial and recreational users.

"Surely they can find other less attractive parts of the coast line to put the commercial interests, rather than one of the world's favourite cruising grounds."

He has sent in a personal submission on the areas. The squadron's 3000 members had been notified of the locations and the squadron's submission was expected to be in by the end of the week.

Mr Endean's objections joined calls by yachting interests in the Bay of Islands itself.

The Save the Bay of Islands Action Group is sponsored by the Northland Yachting Federation and Kerikeri Cruising Club.

The group describes marine farms as "silt traps" and "immovable junk yards".

It organised public meetings for last night and tonight, which the council was to attend.

The group also had more than 3000 signatures on a petition against the areas in the Bay of Islands.

Defining the areas has been controversial throughout Northland.

A Niwa study commissioned by an aquaculture development group suggested the aquaculture industry could be worth $100 million a year for the Northland region, as well as spinoffs including up to 1000 new jobs.

But environmentalists and recreational users of Northland's oceans say such marine farms are hazardous blemishes on the coastline.

Glenn Mortimer, the council's manager of planning and policy, said the first round of wide public consultation would be used to firm up or cancel the areas suggested by the industry.

"Part of what we are trying to do is encourage a balanced look at where future aquaculture in the Bay of Islands should go."

The council had met with the Maritime Safety Authority and the Yachting Federation about issues such as navigation.

The proposed areas have also drawn flak from Kerikeri resident John Greenfield, a former senior agricultural adviser with the World Bank, who said the areas would ruin a "natural wonderland".

He had concerns about silting, which could lead to increased mangrove growth, and debris from farms no longer in use washing up on the shoreline.

Mr Mortimer said the council was considering the silt issue. Farmers could be required to clean up once a farm closed under a bond system.

The council hopes to have its aquaculture areas finalised in time for the central Government-imposed moratorium on aquaculture to lift in December.

The story so far

* Some of Northland's popular harbours have been listed as possible sites for oyster and mussel farms.

* Northland Regional Council says the growing industry could be worth $100 million a year and create 1000 jobs.

* Yachting clubs object, saying the farms could silt up many of their favourite anchorages.

* The Bay of Islands list includes Kerikeri Inlet, Te Puna Inlet, Whale Bay, Oronga Bay, Paroa Bay and Manawaora Bay.