4. SHANE ARDERN (National—Taranaki - King Country) Link to this
to the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture
What recent announcements has he made about aquaculture?
Hon PHIL HEATLEY (Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture) Link to this
The Government has today announced further steps of aquaculture reform, which is a key priority for our economic growth agenda. These decisions will boost aquaculture’s potential to reach the industry’s goal of $1 billion in annual sales by 2025. They are about enabling the sustainable use of our natural resources to build the economy, to create new jobs, and to get more people into work, especially in the regions. I thank the Ministry of Economic Development for working with the Ministry of Fisheries on this matter.
Currently more than 60 applications relating to an area exceeding 8,000 hectares are awaiting a decision. Under the previous Government they were waiting, waiting, and waiting. But now we will see those applications progress. This reform will effectively free-up the bottleneck that kept the industry’s growth in limbo for many, many years while the previous Government talked, talked, and talked.