Mussel farm waits on dolphin survey

The Government has approved an application for a mussel farm at Clifford Bay, south of Blenheim.

But Associate Conservation Minister Mahara Okeroa said yesterday that final approval for the farm would depend on a survey looking at whether the site was of significance to a local population of Hector's dolphins.

The decision follows an application by Clifford Bay Marine Farms to site two mussel farms in Clifford Bay, totalling around 1300ha, and another further south at Cape Campbell.

The Marlborough District Council recommended the Cape Campbell proposal be declined, but that a smaller farm than proposed could go ahead in Clifford Bay.

The matter then went to the Environment Court, which also recommended approval of a Clifford Bay farm, subject to conditions.

Mr Okeroa said that although the approval was subject to the survey, Conservation Minister Chris Carter had accepted the court's view that there was a low risk of harm to the Hector's dolphins.

The 424ha marine farm would occupy less than 3 per cent of the area where the dolphins mostly lived. The company would pay for the survey.

Marine farms bigger than 50ha require a formal decision from the minister under the Resource Management Act.

- NZPA