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Contestable Aquaculture Planning Fund

Introduction

The Ministry for the Environment, on behalf of the Ministries involved in aquaculture, has a fund to help regional councils and unitary authorities support the development of sustainable aquaculture in their regions. A total of $2 million is available over five years commencing in 2007.

The fund is available on a contestable basis only and is administered by the Ministry for the Environment.

The Ministries involved are:

• The Ministry for the Environment
• Te Puni Kōkiri
• The Ministry of Fisheries
• The Ministry of Economic Development
• The Department of Conservation

and supported by:

• New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.

There are two funding rounds per year in May and October. The Chief Executives' Steering Group announce opening and closing dates in March and September. Applications must be submitted on the official application form and only completed applications received by the deadline will be considered for funding.

Purpose of the Fund

The purpose of the fund is to realise the economic and other benefits of sustainable aquaculture to New Zealand by providing support and incentives to regional councils to make provision for aquaculture in their regions. 

By 2012 the Aquaculture Chief Executives' Steering Group would like to see the following achieved with the fund:

• development of new aquaculture space in five regions of New Zealand
• enhanced use of existing space in three regions of New Zealand
• leverage
  • significant financial or other contribution from stakeholders in that region
  • development of practices which are nationally applicable.

The fund assists with a proportion of the costs associated with information gathering and consultation, including but not limited to:

• Supporting environmental studies to underpin aquaculture planning
• Identifying land use pollution sources and solutions in areas of potential value for aquaculture
• Developing assessment methodology for determining the natural character of the coast
• Developing assessment methodology for determining cumulative impacts.

The fund will also consider projects that build information to support the development of land based aquaculture, which has physical connection to the marine environment and industry support.

Eligibility

Funding is available to regional councils and unitary authorities only.

Projects where the central government contribution is at least matched by financial or in-kind contributions from other stakeholders will be viewed favourably in the assessment process. At the discretion of the steering committee the central government contribution may exceed 50 per cent.

Contact us

If you wish to be added to a contact list or for further information please contact Macaela Flanagan on (04) 439 7562 or email macaela.flanagan@mfe.govt.nz

For technical advice please please contact Mark Leggett on (09) 985 4811 or email mark.leggett@mfe.govt.nz

To learn more about regional projects www.aquaculture.govt.nz

Last updated: 12 October 2009