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Marlborough residents support SALMON GROWTH BY KEITH INGRAM M arlborough residents have given resounding approval to New Zealand King Salmon's plans to grow production in the region if the results of an online survey commissioned by the company are correct. The survey reveals nearly four times as many respondents, 54 percent, support the company's plans compared to 14 percent who oppose. The company has applied to the Environmental Protection Authority to add nine salmon farms to its existing fi ve. If approved, the expansion will increase the company's water space by 11ha to 17ha – or 0.01 percent of the 150,000ha of water space in the Marlborough Sounds. Statistics from the Ministry for the Environment on marine farming annual returns reveals that salmon return $1.1 million per hectare. In comparison, mussels return $43,000 per hectare, leaving Pacifi c oysters at a modest $35,000 per hectare. Nearly doubling salmon production in the Marlborough Sounds to 15,000 tonnes a year could create 50 to 70 new jobs on salmon farms by 2015, says New Zealand King Salmon chief executive Grant Rosewarne. The company has plans to boost its annual production from 8900 tonnes to 15,000 tonnes within three years, with the ability to expand up to 30,000 tonnes. The expansion would also create 45 to 50 new jobs in the company's four Nelson factories, said Rosewarne. In the survey, the economic gain for the region, local employment and exports were among the reasons why people supported the company's plans, as was the company's environmental record. One respondent said: "We need jobs other than vineyards. Also, the sounds are huge and they are taking only a tiny bit. I think some people would have us look at lovely views but live in poverty." Another opined: "New Zealand needs businesses to expand in order for the country to become wealthier and I believe the company will do all it can to protect the environment, as it needs a healthy environment in order to produce top-quality salmon." A third opinion addressed the health benefi ts of salmon: "It is such an important and essential food, especially for the elderly … however, the main reason (for supporting the company's plans) is it gives employment and brings in overseas funds. Bring it on." Rosewarne said the survey supports the company's "open door" policy. New Zealand King Salmon (NZKS) sustainably farms king salmon from fi ve sea farms in the cool, deep waters of the sounds. It invests heavily in research and development and is recognised worldwide for its best-in-class king salmon farming practices. It is fi rmly 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. "We announced 12 months ago we would be applying to the EPA for permission to expand, and our application has been on its website since October last year," said Rosewarne. "The survey confi rms we have strong support from the silent ABOVE: One of NZ King Salmons farms in the pristine waters of the Marlborough Sounds. BELOW: Strict hygiene is observed at all time while processing at the Nelson plant majority, and refl ects the deep knowledge local people have about what we want to achieve. "It's also very pleasing to note that almost nine out of 10 believe conservation and commerce are not mutually exclusive and can work in harmony." NZ King Salmon is the country's largest fi nfi sh aquaculture producer, employing more than 455 skilled workers in New Zealand and a further 10 in Australia, the United States and Japan. They currently produce 8500 tonnes of king salmon annually accounting for 70 percent of New Zealand's salmon production. The company says it is the world's biggest farmer and supplier of the king salmon variety with 55 percent of the global market, and earns around $60 million a year in foreign exchange. Total sales on domestic and exports markets are $115 million per year. MAY/JUNE 2012 ■ NZ AQUACULTURE ■ 15