The freshwater farm in Hope is growing silver carp and grass carp on a
recirculating system to sell domestically and to export as food, reports
FairFaxMedia.
The operation was set up by Robert Hutton and funeral director Francis
Day, directors of New Zealand Land Based Aquaculture (NZLBA) which
received its fish farm licence in June from the Ministry of Primary
Industries.
"We are the only commercial fish farm of this kind in the country," Mr Hutton said.
The Ministry of Primary Industries said Aquaponic Venture in Motueka
also had a licence for a fresh water, recirculation farm to rear grass
carp and farm several whitebait species, koura (freshwater crayfish),
Chinook salmon and silver carp.
In total there are only 11 indoor fish farms in New Zealand - most
others used sea-water and grow paua - as the young land-based
aquaculture industry develops.
The Hope fish farm was growing 4500 silver and grass carp on its
recirculation system, without any link to rivers, lakes or streams, Mr
Hutton said.
It had sold the fish to New Zealand Waterways Restoration, due in
September to be used as weed control, and was currently working on
future contracts that included exporting grass and silver carp to
Australia and China for food, he said.
"We have been working on this for one and a half years ... I see a long
future here. Grass Carp are a terrific fish and fit the Asian diet
perfectly," Mr Hutton said.
The company was forming a consortium to set up the new facilities,
budgeted to cost about $5.5 million, and was working with local
councils, Department of Conservation and the Ministry of Primary
Industries.
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