Hon Dr Nick Smith
Minister of Conservation
18 August 2014 Media Statement
Minister approves Marlborough coastal plan changes
Plan changes to enable three new salmon farms in the Marlborough Sounds were signed off today by Conservation Minister
Dr Nick Smith at a function at the Marlborough District Council with Mayor Alistair Sowman and representatives from NZ
King Salmon.
“These three new salmon farms at Waitata and Richmond in Pelorus Sound and Ngamahau in Tory Chanel are hugely important
to Nelson and Marlborough’s aquaculture industry and wider economy. They will enable NZ King Salmon to grow its products
from the current 6000 tonnes per year to 9000 tonnes per year in 2015 and 13,000 tonnes per year by 2033. These new
farms will grow our GDP by $120 million per year, our exports by $50 million and employment by 150 new jobs,” Dr Smith
says.
“I am well satisfied that our region can maintain the conservation and recreation benefits of Marlborough Sounds while
enabling the growth of the aquaculture industry. These three farms will take up only about five hectares of surface
water space out of a total area of over 100,000 hectares in the Sounds, or less than 0.01 per cent.”
The Minister’s approval of Plan Change 24 is the final stage of the legal process following the application in 2011 by
NZ King Salmon for a plan change to make salmon farming a discretionary activity in eight locations. The proposed plan
change was referred to the Environmental Protection Authority Board of Inquiry that received 1272 submission of which
722 opposed, 358 supported and 118 indicated mixed positions.
The Board approved four farms but the decision was subsequently appealed to the High Court by the Environmental Defence
Society and Sustain Our Sounds. The High Court dismissed the appeals and this decision was appealed to the Supreme
Court. The Sustain Our Sounds appeal was dismissed but the appeal by the Environmental Defence Society on the Gore Bay
farm was upheld. The Minister also approved Plan Change 26, a technical change to the Marlborough Sounds Coastal Plan
arising from the Government’s aquaculture reforms.
“It is good news that these coastal plan changes have finally been approved, but I am concerned about the time, cost and
community divisions caused by the process,” Dr Smith says.
“I am trying to encourage a more collaborate approach to resolving these tensions between jobs and growth, and
conservation and recreation around New Zealand’s coastline. They have been successful in Fiordland, Kaikoura and in the
Sub-Antarctic Islands, and I have initiated new collaborative forums in the Hauraki Gulf and Otago.
“I am encouraged by the much improved relationship between King Salmon and the Marlborough District Council and am
considering options for a more collaborative approach to Marlborough Sounds coastal planning in the future.
Marlborough’s future depends on the economic opportunities of producing fine food and wine. Salmon is a superb product
to sit aside the region’s world class wine and mussels.
“I am confident that with goodwill and balance we can grow Nelson and Marlborough’s salmon industry while also
protecting the conservation and recreation values of the Sounds,” Dr Smith concluded.