Another piece of red tape potentially curtailing the growth of the aquaculture industry has been cut with the passing of a bill that protects marine farmers from costly consent reviews.
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones said the government has set the ambitious goal for the aquaculture industry to generate NZD three billion in annual revenue by 2035.
"The Coalition Government is doing its part by providing a regulatory environment where this kind of growth is possible,” said Jones.
The Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Bill, passed last month, restricts the ability of councils to use section 128 of the Resource Management Act to review conditions of coastal permits until September 2030.
“This removes a bureaucratic barrier that potentially undermined efforts to grow aquaculture. Our marine farmers should be using their time, energy and funds to innovate and grow rather than engaging in tick-box exercises with overzealous regulators."
The change follows the Resource Management (Extended Duration of Coastal Permits for Marine Farms) Amendment Bill last year, which extended coastal permits for marine farms by 20 years.
Last year’s amendment introduced a new process for councils to review marine farm consent conditions, subject to certain restrictions, including covering the review costs and limiting the number of reviews per consent. This process, available until September 2030, allows for a review of conditions to occur when absolutely necessary, thereby reducing the impact of reviews on marine farmers.
“These changes are allowing marine farmers to focus on growing their operations, hiring more Kiwis and bringing in more export dollars, rather than dealing with endless red tape and costs stemming from an inefficient permitting process."
