New insights from The Food Institute show global fish consumption is rising faster than other proteins, driven by the growing recognition that kaimoana has a multitude of health benefits.

However, wild fishery production around the world has been all but maxed out, with limited to no potential for increasing production in global marine capture fisheries.

As a result of this imbalance between supply and demand, the aquaculture industry – the controlled cultivation of aquatic organisms – has been thrust into the spotlight.

Ngā Iwi i Te Rohe o Te Waiariki and Te Arawa Fisheries are invested in exploring new aquaculture opportunities and has been positioning themselves to be at the forefront of developments in this industry.

Our collaboration with Aotearoa’s top science and technology experts will ensure we can find new ways to grow, harvest and utilise our kaimoana – creating a world-class and sustainable marine and aquaculture industry across the Waiariki region. Read more about our recently signed MOU here.

Ngā Iwi i Te Rohe o Te Waiariki is also hard at work progressing its aquaculture kaupapa with the development of business cases to inform potential future iwi investment.

All draft business cases were due this month and we will provide more of an update on our next steps in the coming weeks.

Ngā Iwi i Te Rohe o Te Waiariki and Te Arawa Fisheries believe sustainability is at the heart of building a successful aquaculture enterprise. Global demand for kaimoana will continue to grow but it is our responsibility to meet this demand in a way that will not adversely affect the environment and marine species.