The Ministry of Primary Industries in New Zealand has issued a proposal to relocate six king salmon farms in the Marlborough Sounds.
The proposal is about making better use of existing aquaculture space; there is no proposed increase in the total surface structure area used for salmon farming in the Marlborough Sounds, said Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy.
Last year, a working group of community, iwi, officials and industry representatives was established to look at options for salmon farming under new environmental guidelines. The working group considered nine potential sites for relocation of the farms, and the government has decided to progress six of these for public consultation.
The proposed sites are further from residential properties, and are positioned in areas with stronger water currents, which would reduce the environmental effects on the seabed, said Guy.
Five of the six proposed relocation sites put forward for consideration are in Pelorus Sound and one is in Tory Channel. The Marlborough District Council has been involved in developing the proposal.
An independent panel of three resource management experts will review expert research reports, analyze all written comments and hold public hearings during April 2017.
