Board’s decision represents missed opportunity for community

20 December, 2012

Board’s decision represents “missed opportunity for community”: New Zealand King Salmon

The draft decision released today by the EPA’s Board of Inquiry represents a missed opportunity for Marlborough, Nelson, New Zealand and the company NZ King Salmon CEO Grant Rosewarne says.

“All could have benefited so much more had we been granted additional space.”

Mr Rosewarne says the company believes commerce and conservation can live together and that the Sounds can easily support what the company had planned.

“But too often in New Zealand commerce is pitted against conservation in an adversarial way that prevents regions achieving benefits from their natural advantages. As a nation we must find a way to view development as not being contrary to environmental objectives.”

“While the Board has granted us some space to grow we are mindful that the farms must come with consent conditions which make them practical to operate. We will need more time to assess the resource consent conditions.”

Mr Rosewarne believes the region will miss out on downstream economic growth and local businesses will be denied capital development works as well as ongoing business.

“New Zealand depends on sustainable primary production to support a standard of living and a way of life we all enjoy. But Australia has recently granted almost 200 per cent more space for salmon farming than we have received at about one fifth of our cost. How does New Zealand industry compete with these realities?

“We have missed an opportunity to bring more than 370 new jobs to the Top of the South and support local businesses across a wide range of categories.

“As a company we had extremely good growth prospects but will now have to review our strategy. Our next move is to carefully examine the draft decision. We are able to comment on minor or technical aspects of the report before the Board’s final decision is issued in February.

“We acknowledge the community's voice during the process. We will continue to work hard to show them they can be proud of our wonderful world-class King salmon product in the same way that Marlborough is proud of the region’s renowned Sauvignon Blanc,” Mr Rosewarne says.

“King salmon, sustainably grown at home and in balance with the environment, is a success story for New Zealand and Marlborough. We produce a world class product sought after by some of the top chefs in the world and supply the New Zealand market with valued Omega-3s.

“We look forward to utilising the four farms we have been granted to help meet demand.

“Businesses that support the local community, the health of the nation and economic growth need to be fostered and celebrated.”

ends

About New Zealand King Salmon
New Zealand King Salmon (NZKS) sustainably farms King salmon from five sea farms in the cool, deep waters of the South Island’s Marlborough Sounds. NZKS invests heavily in research and development and is recognised worldwide for its best in class King salmon farming practises. It is firmly committed to the sustainability and viability of a renewable resource with its success centred on maintaining the purity of the waters in which the salmon are farmed. King salmon has a high natural content of healthy long-chain Omega-3 oils important for life and good health and which can help to maintain a healthy heart.

NZ King Salmon:
• Is NZ’s largest fin fish aquaculture producer employing more than 440 skilled workers in New Zealand and a further 10 in Australia, the US and Japan.
• Currently produces up to 7,500 metric tonnes of King salmon annually accounting for 70 per cent of New Zealand’s salmon production.
• Total sales on domestic and exports markets are NZ$115 million p.a.
• Is the world’s biggest farmer and supplier of the King salmon variety with 55 per cent of the global market and earns around NZ$50 million a year in foreign exchange.
• Has clear market advantages including great tasting salmon from a sustainable, disease-free, chemical-free, clean growing environment, fresh-to-market distribution, vertical integration and supply chain product traceability.

NZKS brands Regal and Southern Ocean are available nationwide from supermarkets (NZ only), fish suppliers and good delicatessens. For recipes and serving suggestions visit www.regalsalmon.co.nz. The company also produces premium Ōra King salmon exclusively for the food service trade. For more on Ōra King visit www.oraking.co.nz. For more information about NZ King Salmon visit www.kingsalmon.co.nz.

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