Government lifts marine farm moratorium

Parliament has approved the lifting of a three-year-old moratorium on marine farm applications, to take effect on December 31.

The Aquaculture Reform Bill passed its final stages with an 83-36 majority.

It approved allocating to Maori 20 per cent of marine farming allocated since 1992 and 20 per cent of any future new space.

Fisheries Minister David Benson-Pope said the delayed lifting of the moratorium would mean the $1 billion-a-year potential of the industry could now be realised.

It was passed with the support of United Future, the Greens, the Progressives and New Zealand First, but opponents of the bill took issue with allocations to Maori.

National's fisheries spokesman, David Carter, said there was no reason to give Maori anything because the 1992 fisheries settlement had been full and final and covered all areas of the fishing industry.

"It was absolutely clear, and everyone who signed that settlement considered it to be full and final," he said.

Mr Benson-Pope disagreed, saying that aquaculture was "unfinished business" from the wider settlement.

"Settling contemporary commercial claims removes a major impediment to progress and certainty," he said.

A moratorium was first placed on marine farm consents in November 2001 after the Government feared that current law and planning mechanisms were not coping with a "goldrush" of applications.

The Government's attempt to lift the ban in March this year was thwarted by events including the row over who owned the foreshore and seabed.

The industry was initially worried by the bill but Mr Benson-Pope said there was widespread agreement that it would now allow councils to effectively manage aquaculture and encourage the aquaculture industry to develop.

One of the changes during the passage of the bill was to give the holders of marine farm permits the right to be first in line for renewals after the 20-year period expired.

That has been welcomed by the industry, because in its original form the bill said all permits would be put up for tender when they expired.

Act MP Gerry Eckhoff said the permits should be leases in perpetuity, and should not have to be renewed.

"This industry has the potential to be one of New Zealand's biggest export industries, but we are restricting and controlling it in the name of goodness knows what," Mr Eckhoff said.

"In Australia there are four pages of regulations covering aquaculture. In New Zealand, there are more than 400."

- NZPA