- New Zealand will ease consent requirements for offshore aquaculture projects.
- Open-ocean aquaculture is expected to play key role in seafood production growth.
- The reforms aim to boost investment and support the sector’s NZ$3bn revenue target.
The changes are included in the government’s Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill, which will replace the Resource Management Act (RMA) with a new planning framework intended to support primary sector development while maintaining environmental protections.
Unlocking offshore expansion
Under the proposed rules, offshore aquaculture projects beyond three nautical miles from the coast would no longer be required to consider outstanding natural landscapes, outstanding natural features or areas of high natural character during the consent process.
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones said the reforms would reduce regulatory barriers for open-ocean aquaculture, which the government views as a key contributor to industry expansion.
“New Zealand has ambitious goals for aquaculture growth, aiming to reach NZ$3bn in annual revenue by 2035,” Jones said.
“Open ocean aquaculture, which has the potential to deliver a large part of this growth, will have a simpler consent process. This includes removing the need to consider outstanding natural landscapes or features, or areas of high natural character, for activities more than three nautical miles offshore.”
The legislation would also introduce a mechanism for ministerial decision-making on aquaculture space allocation in certain cases, providing marine farmers with greater certainty before consents are granted.
Jones said the measure would help attract investment into the sector and unlock further growth opportunities.
“This will help attract greater investment in the sector and help the enormous potential for growth,” he said.
The government said the reforms are intended to support sustainable expansion of New Zealand’s aquaculture industry, increase seafood production and help meet growing global demand for seafood exports.
The measures form part of wider resource management reforms currently progressing through Parliament.
Accelerating aquaculture growth
This news follows the approval of the Hananui Aquaculture Project, an open-ocean salmon farm expected to support sector growth.
The project is projected to produce 14,400 tonnes of salmon per year, generate more than NZ$310m in sales and create 415 to 480 jobs in the region.
The volume would represent almost the same amount of salmon produced by New Zealand’s entire salmon farming industry in 2025-26.
The development, proposed by Ngāi Tahu Seafood Resources Limited, was the 31st project approved under the government’s fast-track process and the first aquaculture venture approved through the scheme.
According to the government, it has already invested NZ$11.72m (US$6.87m) in a project to boost open-ocean aquaculture around New Zealand.
