Aquaculture plans in muddy waters

By IRENE CHAPPLE

Fisheries Minister Pete Hodgson will come under pressure from marine farmers this week after the Government conceded that the aquaculture reform bill could be delayed.

The comment came from Attorney-General Margaret Wilson, who said the bill would be delayed unless an "early resolution" to the seabed and foreshore issue was reached.

A spokesman for Hodgson yesterday said there "is no reason to think at this stage that [the bill's introduction] will be delayed".

But he conceded that an extension to the two-year moratorium on new marine farms, put in place last year, had not been ruled out.

Hodgson will address the joint Marine Farmers' Association and Mussel Industry Association annual meeting in Nelson on Thursday.

He has repeatedly promised that the bill will be introduced next month, as its delay could force an extension of the moratorium's expiry date of next March.

That in turn will continue the arrest of what is seen as the sunrise element within the fishing industry.

The bill's introduction has already been delayed 15 months.

Marine farmers, most of whom agreed with the moratorium's stated purpose of stalling the industry while better legislation was implemented, are becoming increasingly frustrated with the log-jam of problems.

The bill's progress is hampered by the foreshore and seabed issue because it deals with iwi claims over water.

An intervention clause is expected in the aquaculture legislation to deal with iwi claims, but its content is now understood to be affected by the foreshore and seabed issue.

Some argue that the issues should be dealt with as one, but others believe an intervention clause in the bill would leave an opening for claims that would have to be dealt with later.

About 130 industry representatives are expected at the Nelson meeting.

Graeme Coates, executive officer of the Marine Farming Association, said it would be good to have the minister present to answer questions.

Coates was relaxed about suggestions that the foreshore and seabed issue might delay the bill, but said the annual meeting would be "a chance for the minister to give the industry some comfort".