Speakers at the conference will include Andrew Ferrier, the former chief executive of Fonterra. Photo / Steven McNicholl
Speakers at the conference will include Andrew Ferrier, the former chief executive of Fonterra. Photo / Steven McNicholl
The focus of the aquaculture industry, gathering in Nelson today for its annual conference, has shifted from fixing legislation to developing business, says Aquaculture New Zealand chief executive Mike Burrell.
"We've got through a difficult few years both with the global financial crisis and with a challenging legislative environment andnow we're in a very good position as a sector to start looking at those opportunities and taking those opportunities," Burrell said.
Speakers at the start of the conference include Andrew Ferrier, the former chief executive of Fonterra.
"Then straight away we get into innovation because unlike previous years where we've been fixated on the law because the law was broken," Burrell said.
"Now that that's been fixed and we've got an enabling legislative environment now we can start focusing on what will bring that growth and that's going to be innovation, a focus on the food itself and improving that, a focus on the market and sustainability and all those kind of key things."
Law changes aimed at boosting the aquaculture industry were passed in August.
Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson and Minister for the Environment Nick Smith yesterday said a proposal by New Zealand King Salmon for eight new farming sites in the Marlborough Sounds had been sent to an independent board of inquiry.
Burrell was expecting a positive atmosphere at the conference. "Obviously we have to temper our optimism with the reality of the global market."
