I see in Saturdays Northen Advocate, that the proposal to establish a fish farm in Peach Cove by Moana Pacific and Haka Tamure has been pulled, reported to be because of the cost of getting approval for recource consent.
I'm not surprised given how difficult it would be to prove that these sorts of ventures don't have any significant effects on the environment.
I'd like to think that marine farms could help increase natural fish stocks by removing the need for excessive commercial fishing, but I ain't so sure.
Here's a list of some of the negetives raised:
The cost of feeding farmed fish makes it barely viable and the introduction of foreign feed into the local environment can effect local stocks.
By-products such as faeces, food waistes, antibiotics and anthelmintecs destroy the marine food chain and trigger algal blooms.
Causes high infestations of sealice in feed lots.
Wild fish stocks threatened by lower fertilty through cross breeding.
Marine mamals snared in nets.
Attracts sharks and other predators
Low employment potential.
Conflict with all marine users.
Visual impact above and below water.
It was interesting to note also from the article that "perhaps if the they had applied to put the farm anywhere but Peach cove, they might not have had so much opposition"
You see, the little guy can have an effect, but not with out trying eh?
No worries Kezz.
Penguin fishing, yeah I must get on to that. I've been thinking about recipes too, as per Captain Asparagus's recommendations. I'll keep you posted once I've worked out the finer cullinary points
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