New Zealand's territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is the seventh largest in the world and cover a massive 4.1 million km3 - this huge expanse of clean water is an ideal environment to farm oysters, mussels and salmon.

Marine farms, which before the 1990's were just small farms dotted around the coast, mainly in the Marlborough Sounds, Northland and around the Coromandel Peninsula, have increased five fold and the demand for water space is increasing.

Aquaculture operations now extend from Northland through to Kaipara and Coromandel down to Taupo and then into the northern tip of the South Island in Tasman, Golden Bays and Marlborough, then further south at Banks Penninsula, Twizel and Mackenzie Basin and as far down as Stewart Island.

The average annual growth rate of aquaculture in New Zealand is 13 per cent with 20 per cent of the total fisheries coming from the aquaculture industry. In 2005 sales from Greenshell™ Mussels, Pacific Oysters and King Salmon totalled some $NZ323 million in the domestic and global markets.

In Marlborough in the South Island aquaculture has grown to be the second biggest industry after tourism and local mussel operators have set up farm tours which give visitors a relaxing day on the water, a delicious feed of mussels, and a glass of local Sauvignon Blanc.

The New Zealand government put together the New Zealand Aquaculture Strategy, which outlined a ten-point plan to build the industry. Part of that plan was to establish a national sector organisation and in June 2007 Aquaculture New Zealand was officially launched by the Prime Minister and the Minister for Fisheries.

The board has representations from the mussel, pacific oyster, king salmon, and paua groups, as well as a Maori (iwi) representative. They are responsible for implementing the strategy including creation of new Aquaculture Management Areas. (AMA's.)

Industry sustainability is more than a buzzword and is one of the guiding principles underpinning the strategy. Clean, unpolluted waters are critical and regular monitoring of farm water for bio-toxins, bacteria and heavy metals is carried out. Monitoring requirements are set primarily by the regional councils who administer resource consents for aquaculture farms. However, the New Zealand Food Safety Authority also specifies some monitoring, as does the industry.

Traceability is important for many food industries and in some markets is mandatory. New Zealand aquaculture products can be traced from point of harvest to the final consumer.

At the moment the industry is focussed on a small number of species but there is potential for commercial development of rock lobsters, flat oysters, ina, seaweed, eels, snapper, kingfish, groper, seahorse and flatfish.

Working alongside the Ministry for the Environment, Department of Conservation, Ministry for Economic Development (MED), Te Puni Kokiri (TPK ) and the Ministry of Fisheries (MFish) is the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise which has developed the Aquaculture Implementation Team.

This team is responsible for ensuring that a whole of government approach is used when dealing with the industry, particularly to the commercial aspects of economic development. It will focus on expanding in-market assistance in key markets over the next four years and more particularly market development for aquaculture. Its strength lies in the relationships it has with key seafood companies in New Zealand.

Maori (Iwi) have a major stake in the future of the aquaculture industry. As a result of the settlement process there will be opportunities to expand their economic returns. Iwi have received more than $NZ385 million worth of fisheries assets since 2005.

The 2004 Aquaculture Reform expands on the Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act under which are two sets of obligations. The first is providing the Maori Commercial Aquaculture Settlement Trust with the equivalent of 20 per cent of existing aquaculture space in the coastal marine area and the same amount of all new space.

This is a bold ambitious move for New Zealand and comes with full government support at a state and local level. It will include high-level marketing, including research and development of new species to maintain industry competitiveness, as well as ensuring a sustainable and continuing seafood industry.