Ecological Effects of Farming Shellfish and Other Non-finfish Species

Review of the Ecological Effects of Farming Shellfish and Other Non-finfish Species, Cawthron Report No. 1476 was produced for the Ministry of Fisheries and published in August 2009.

The report was commissioned by the Ministry of Fisheries to address concerns raised by regional councils and the marine farming industry regarding a lack of publicly available information summarising the ecological effects of farming shellfish and other non-finfish species. The outcomes of this review are expected to assist regional councils, communities and the marine farming sector in planning for and developing sustainable aquaculture in New Zealand.

The report looks at the ecological effects of Greenshell™ mussel farming, intertidal Pacific oyster cultivation, and developing and potential non-finfish species. It also gives an evaluation of ecological risks from non-finfish aquaculture, considers future developments in New Zealand aquaculture, and discusses management and mitigation of ecological effects.