A major land-based salmon farming research project has been announced in NZ to address capacity.
A “state of the art” aquaculture facility in Southland, New Zealand’s southernmost region, costing up to NZD 100 million (EUR 58.9 million), is among three projects to receive a NZD 2 million (EUR 1.1 million) cash injection from the Provincial Growth Fund reports the NZ Herald.
The grant will study the feasibility of the new land-based salmon hatchery as well as mussel spat nursery and research facility.
The new salmon site would capitalise on the “constrained” supply of smolt in New Zealand, as existing hatcheries are close to capacity. It will also adopt new and transferable technology for faster processing and increased production, while improving biosecurity management and environmental control.
Aquaculture has become the regions fastest-growing primary industries.
Together, the projects could deliver more than 1000 jobs to the area with the new hatchery potentially producing around en estimated EUR 235 million in export earnings.
