Social Benefits
Imagining an open ocean aquaculture industry in Aotearoa New Zealand that benefits the environment and people
OOA that supports the wellbeing of people and the environment
Marine farming in the open ocean could be very profitable for Aotearoa New Zealand's aquaculture industry, but it's not just about the money! We want to see open ocean aquaculture carried out in a way that enhances the health of the environment and the wellbeing of people.
- We’re imagining the sustainable production of healthy food that benefits the communities where it is produced for generations.
- We’re imagining an industry that embeds the values, aspirations and knowledge of mana whenua (local Māori communities) at its centre.
- We’re imagining an industry that is understood and embraced by the communities where it operates.
Defining success
Open Ocean Aquaculture feeds people, creates jobs and generates income for owners and communities. However, development that focusses on standard economic indicators would fall short of the enormous potential of OOA.
Ngā Punga o te Moana has a much broader definition of success – we want to ensure the widest social and environmental benefits from OOA that are possible. This requires us to work closely with both industry stakeholders and Māori enterprises to ensure:
- Māori values, aspirations and knowledge are embedded from the outset and provide a framework for how our OOA industry operates.
- The OOA industry gains social license through engagement with the public and Māori enterprises and communities.
We expect investment in this Programme to have great flow on effects for local economies through direct employment on farms, in processing facilities, and in support industries including farm installation, equipment manufacture, monitoring technologies, and boat building.
