Opotiki ‘muscle’ boost for marine farm

Opotiki is a district prepared to back itself. It proved that late last year when locals invested $2.5 million in just a few short weeks to enable a trial of mussel farming to continue.


Great result – Graham Fielder, board chairman Robert Edwards and Whakatohea Maori Trust CEO Dickie Farrar check a mussel line from the offshore farm.

Forty lines
“By next year we will have 40 lines,” says Robert.

Mussels harvested from the farm will be shipped to Whakatane for transport to a processing factory in Tauranga.

“But once the farm produces 5000 tonnes, we want to be processing the mussels onshore at Opotiki.”

The development of the Opotiki Harbour, with safe, all-tide access through the harbour mouth, is crucial to that goal – and Robert says the community is committed to establishing a processing factory on land on the northern side of the harbour.

“We must not limit our future potential by not securing enough land. I’ve seen what’s happened in places like Port Lincoln in Tasmania and even with the mussel factory in Tauranga, where it can’t grow because it’s being crowded out.

“We don’t know yet the full possibilities for marine farming and associated businesses so we need to allow room for growth.”

Adding value to the mussels grown in high quality offshore waters is the aim.

“If we can pipe in fresh sea water, we may be able to extend the shelf-life of mussels onshore. We need to add value to what we produce, from fresh mussels, to mussels in a half shell, to mussel powder. There may even be a market for small mussels.”


So far there are 12 mussel lines, each 3000 metres long, in place on the mussel farm offshore from Opotiki.

Kingfish
Robert also believes the 3800 hectare marine farm could be used for farming other shellfish and even fin fish, like Kingfish, all of which could be processed in Opotiki.

The direct and associated employment the marine farm and harbour development will bring to the district is vital to restore the people’s self-pride and rangatiratanga – self-determination.

“With employment and improved incomes will come improvement in self-esteem, in housing, in health, in education. Our young people will see a future in Opotiki and stay instead of leaving the district,” says Robert.

The marine farm and harbour development will restore pride to a community which was, in the 1860s, a thriving hub for Maori entrepreneurs who grew vegetables, raised pigs, cattle and horses, owned a fleet of coastal vessels and traded produce with European settlers as far north as Auckland.

Proud community
Robert says the fact Opotiki people are prepared to put money into the aquaculture company reaffirms the determination of Opotiki to turn its fortunes around and once again become a prosperous, proud community contributing to the local and national economy. 


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