Wakatu Incorporation is an emerging giant of New Zealand’s aquaculture industry. With plans to build a centre dedicated to blending science and innovation to add value to NZ’s seafood exports, the future looks bright for our budding aquaculture entrepreneurs.
It’s home to New Zealand’s deep-sea fishing industry and the largest fishing port in the Southern Hemisphere. It’s also home to an awakening taniwha that is quickly captivating the imagination of New Zealand’s marine industry. With an exciting new enterprise in the pipeline, Nelson is on the crest of a breaking wave set to entice aquaculture gurus and scientists alike. All that stands in the way of global market dominance is a capital investment of $33.5 million and a little faith that New Zealand has the skills and expertise to become a leader in aquaculture research and commercial development.
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Key quotes from article:
“The Horoirangi Centre for Seafood and Aquaculture Innovation is the brain child of Wakatu Incorporation, a collectively owned Maori business based in Nelson. Wakatu is currently investigating the viability of developing a world-class aquaculture research institute with facilities that will include laboratories, commercial hatcheries, nurseries, aquatic land-based research ponds and educational facilities. “We’re going to build a centre for commercial and scientific collaboration for aquaculture innovation. Then we’re going to translate that intellectual capital to demand premium prices for NZ seafood products,” says Chief Executive, Keith Palmer.”
“While aquaculture is the fastest growing sector world-wide and is expanding its production at a rate of 15% a year, world seafood consumption is estimated to rise to 35% by 2015. With a concomitant decline in wild fisheries there are simply not enough fish in the sea to meet demand so future needs will have to be met from farming. Through Horoirangi, Wakatu aims to strengthen its partnerships with regional stakeholders, foster a climate to maximise innovation and promote ecologically sustainability methods to expand NZ’s aquaculture exports. “It’s about being smarter and being ahead of global competition so we can demand top prices in high value markets,” says Palmer.”
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