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Billion dollar industry BY 2025 he programme at the New Zealand Aquaculture conference at the Rutherford hotel in Nelson in on November 1-2, was an opportunity for Aquaculturalists to network with others in their industry. It was an opportunity to hear people who greatly in���uence this sector speak on a programme that included in its topics: environmental and economic sustainability, value added products and marketing, the social licence to farm public water space, regional coastal policies andmarine farming charges, and smarter routes to innovation. After an introductory speech from Prime Minister John Key, the minister for Primary Industries David Carter addressed the conference theme: ���Sustainable growth��� and the sustainable future of the industry. An edited version of his speech follows: Firstly, I want to say I agree wholeheartedly with your theme this year ��� ���Looking Forward to Sustainable Growth.��� That is very much my focus, and the focus of this Government. ��� Aquaculture is vital to New Zealand���s export growth and the Government has committed to partnering with your industry to ensure we all meet our targets.We want to see you grow and achieve your goal of a $1 billion industry by 2025. But getting there won���t be without its challenges, and I will talk more about that shortly. T RESEARCH, CONSULTING AND LABORATORY ANALYSIS Aquaculture research Aquaculture impact assessments and consents Biosecurity and pest management plans IANZ accredited seafood laboratory Fisheries assessments and management systems Adaptive management plans CAWTHRON INSTITUTE Ph +64 3 548 2319 info@cawthron.org.nz www.cawthron.org.nz 14 ��� NZ AQUACULTURE ��� JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013 David Carter I know some of you have been involved for close to 40 years, but in terms of primary industries, aquaculture is sometimes seen as the new kid on the block. The good thing about this is that you aren���t bound by any kind of tradition, you are free to innovate. In saying that, there is one exception, the ability to farm trout, which I know there���s a level of interest in. I realise there would be some disappointment in this room over the Government���s decision to extend the Customs Import Prohibition Order for trout. To be quite clear, we considered the implication of this CIPO carefully, but the Government is simply not prepared to enter into a debate on farming trout at this stage. ��� innovation is what we need to grow New Zealand businesses, create jobs and improve New Zealanders��� standard of living. Mt Cook Alpine Salmon, for example, recently received the tick from the Global Aquaculture Alliance for Best Aquaculture Practice. It���s the ���rst aquaculture facility in Australasia to receive this certi���cation based on its environmentally and socially responsible track record. Not bad for the ���highest salmon farm in the world���! And it���s the most recent accolade for the company that took Supreme Winner of the New Zealand Food Awards last year. Being able to prove that we grow our food in an environmentally safe and sustainable way will help us maintain and grow both our good international reputation and demand for high value products. But back to the Government���s Growth Agenda��� Key to this is increasing export markets, encouraging and enabling investment in research and development, strengthening infrastructure and building a skilled and responsive labour market. Currently New Zealand exports at least 80 per cent of the food we produce. We are renowned as producers of some of the best food in the world, at a time when food security is one of the world���s greatest challenges. This Government has set an ambitious target to see exports lift from 30 per cent to 40 per cent of GDP by 2025. Your sector can make a signi���cant contribution to this goal. We all know primary industries are the engine room of the New Zealand economy, (and are) responsible for 71 percent of our merchandise exports. I see two speci���c reasons for con���dence within your industry. Firstly, earnings are forecast to continue to increase. And secondly, New Zealand aquaculture has huge opportunity to meet growing global seafood demand. As you all know, the Government���s National Aquaculture Strategy and Five-year Action Plan was launched in May this year. This strategy sets out exactly how the Government will support growth of the aquaculture industry over the next ���ve years. An important aspect of this is the identi���ed markers for measuring progress and performance. But also crucial is that the growth of the sector must be led by industry. Our strategy must underpin your industry���s own growth strategy, interceding only where government can add value and where industry and others cannot act alone.