Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Oyster industry reports $20m loss in New Zealand

The death rate of young oysters on Northland's marine farms has now reached 50 percent, equating to a NZ$20 million loss to the industry, the Northland Regional Council was told yesterday. The council unanimously agreed to take part in a response team of central government and industry agencies initiated by MAF Biosecurity NZ last month. The team will carry out a wide range of investigations into the causes of the catastrophe as well as addressing social distress in the industry.

This may include a support package including Work And Income benefits for farm operators, processing staff and other associated staff. NRC aquaculture policy specialist Ben Lee, told the council he had got the information that losses had reached the 50 percent mark from Tom Hollings of industry umbrella group Aquaculture New Zealand, just minutes before the meeting. Council chief executive Ken Patterson said that figure was up 10 percent on the most recent figures previously to hand, making it clear the mortality rate was rising fast.

A report from staff members Dr Jacquie Reed, coastal program manager and Don McKenzie, biosecurity senior program manager, said the losses were likely to cause significant economic loss to the aquaculture industry in Northland and high social impact as the region's oyster firms faced severe financial hardship. Read more...

This blog is written by Martin Little The Aquaculturists, published and supported by the International Aquafeed Magazine from Perendale Publishers.

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