Southern Clams permitted to harvest in Otago

Southern Clams can begin harvesting in Otago Harbour again; pictured is purpose-built barge Tuaki bringing the first four-tonne load of cockles from the harbour back to the company's city factory in 2009. Photo: Stephen Jaquiery

Dunedin exporter Southern Clams now has approval to commercially harvest cockles from Otago Harbour, having previously been banned by fisheries regulations.

The controversial 11-year-old proposal will now rely on Southern Clams and Otakou runanga working together to monitor the harvest, the runanga having, at one point, wanted a mataitai reserve placed on the whole harbour.

The go-ahead meant harvesting would be on rotation between the harbour and Blueskin Bay, respectively taking about 700 tonnes and 300 tonnes annually.

Previously, fisheries regulations from the 1960s, related to water quality and food safety, prohibited shellfish harvesting but those concerns were now managed by separate regulations, under the Shellfish Quality Assurance Programme.

The harbour beds are opposite Broad Bay and Deborah Bay, containing about 200 cockle beds spread over several hundred hectares.

Southern Clams managing director Roger Belton said the past 22 months had been a long wait for the decision.

''We've had to shelve all our development plans and decline new market demands as we were limited to only harvesting from Blueskin Bay which is vulnerable to regular closures throughout the year,'' he said.

The decision had given the company a boost in confidence for a secure, productive and sustainable future, with prospects for development and a 25% staffing boost to 40 people.

Edward Ellison, Otakou runanga upoko and head of the Otakou hapu, was contacted and said ''it was not the outcome wanted''.

However, under the agreement to let commercial harvesting go ahead, the runanga and Southern Clams would work together.

''Monitoring will go on and we'll [together] develop a monitoring programme ... hopefully this will satisfy our concerns,'' Mr Ellison said.

Southern Clams general manager Dave Redshaw said rejuvenation monitoring was important, as some beds could be harvested annually, while others had to be left alone for two years.

More clams would initially be taken from the harbour so as give Blueskin Bay a respite from harvesting, he said.

Harvesting resumed last Thursday.

Under a special permit, between 2009-17 clam harvesting was permitted on two Otago harbour sand banks, equating to 4.5% of harbour area, so Southern Clams could scientifically evaluate the environmental effects of commercial clam harvesting.

Mr Belton said the research conclusion satisfied the Government commercial harvesting was likely to be sustainable with low and manageable environmental impact.

However, in 2009, other research by a University of Otago PhD marine science student was at odds with the finding, fuelling ill-feeling with the runanga.

''Now that we have diversity in our harvest areas, we can broaden our supply base and be more responsive to market needs,'' Mr Belton, who is overseas, said in a statement yesterday.

''It's very exciting for the company and for Dunedin. This is one local industry that is not going to relocate,'' he said.

Established in 1983, Southern Clams exports 80% of its harvest and the balance is for domestic markets, getting live cockles to restaurant tables around the world within 48 hours of harvest.

Mr Belton said having access to the harbour and Blueskin Bay provided more confidence in ensuring sustainable production and better management through rotational harvesting to meet demands.

Any closure of a harvest area could seriously affect Southern Clams' ability to deliver, he said.

Mr Belton said five years ago the company made plans and costings for product diversification and these would now be revived, which could result in the workforce growing from from 30 to 40.

''Now, the local clam resource, the largest of its kind in the country, can confidently contribute to sustained growth of the city's economy,'' he said.

Papanui Inlet had been reopened to clam harvesting for a year, albeit under a restriction that they be processed and not sold raw. Southern Clams pulled out of a plan to mature Bluff oysters in Dunedin's harbour, following the mid-2017 oyster parasite Bonamia ostreae outbreak on farmed oysters on Stewart Island.

simon.hartley@odt.co.nz