Fish could on the site “in the first half of calendar year 2020”.
Stuff reports that King Salmon has lodged a consent application to begin salmon farming in Cook Strait.
Last April, SalmonBusiness reported that company CEO Grant Rosewarne said that testing had been completed on the most northern side of Cook Strait with waves and currents conditions “more benign” than anticipated.
He told the publication that existing open-ocean salmon farming technology could handle the conditions, though the much-touted submersible pens – that can be lowered or raised depending on conditions – are not needed. Increased costs associated with moving farms further out to sea would be counteracted by the increased survival of fish further out, the publication wrote.
“Cook Strait has a fearsome reputation, but it turns out — the location we are considering to farm – of 360 degrees exposure, it’s relatively sheltered from heavy seas by all but 11 degrees.”
He said if the consent process went smoothly, there could be fish on the site “in the first half of calendar year 2020”.
The company is eager to to expand into oper waters after last year’s warm weather caused the deaths of one in five fish. “Well, we’re desperate around climate change. It’s already happening to us and we need that support. So far, we’re not getting it,” said Rosewarne.
