Land-based aquaculture
The Aquaculture Unit within the Ministry of Fisheries is the Government's principal adviser on land-based aquaculture. The Ministry of Fisheries Spatial Allocations team manages applications relating to land-based aquaculture farming under the provisions of the Freshwater Fish Farming Regulations 1983. The regulations cover both freshwater and marine species farmed on land.
The species must be one that is approved for farming under these regulations. Land-based fish farmers will need to hold a fish-farm licence issued under those regulations to farm an aquatic species for sale.
When applying for a fish-farm licence, you need to provide:
- Any resource consents required to take and/or discharge water from the fish farm. If they are not necessary, include a letter from the council advising that such consents are not needed.
- Any other resource consent required to establish the fish farm.
- Evidence you have the right to use the land for your fish-farming licence, eg a copy of the lease agreement or ownership papers.
- A completed application form, a client registration form (unless you are already a client) and the relevant fee.
Applications can also be made to vary an existing licence (usually to add more species to the schedule of species that may be farmed), renew or transfer a licence, or cancel the licence.
Fees and levies
The relevant fee must accompany an application. The fee is related to the amount of time taken to process an application. In addition, annual levies are payable to cover administration and compliance costs – these can vary from year to year and are usually set at around $30.
Schedule of Fees and Levies - these fees and levies are current as of November 2010.
What can you grow through land-based aquaculture?
View the list of species that can be farmed on land-based farms under the Freshwater Fish Farming Regulations 1983.
Once a fish-farm licence has been issued it will be necessary to obtain broodstock to stock the farm. It is not possible to take aquatic life from natural waters (e.g. the sea, lakes, and rivers) to use as stock on a fish farm. Stock can only be acquired from one of the following sources: another land-based fish farm, a marine farm, or a licensed fish receiver. Before transferring broodstock to the farm, approval from MFish is required.
Transfers of aquatic life
Approval is also required to transfer aquatic life from one fish farm to another or before releasing into the wild. It is necessary to apply to MFish for approval to transfer any stock onto or off a fish farm.
Regulation update
The government intends to review the Freshwater Fish Farming Regulations in the future. MFish will contact existing fish farmers when the review begins. If you plan to establish a land-based fish farm, you should talk to MFish staff regarding developments in this area.
For more information email fishfarm@fish.govt.nz.
