Aquaculture Pathway
Murihiku Southland aims to become a leading aquaculture region, grounded in sustainable aquaculture practices.
Great South (Southland’s Regional Development Agency) has developed the Murihiku Southland Aquaculture Pathway 2025 in partnership with iwi, and on behalf of Murihiku Southland communities, businesses, councils and key stakeholders.
The Pathway provides a collective view of opportunities based on multiple stakeholders’ insights. It articulates how Murihiku Southland prepares for an expanded industry, acknowledging it will take many years. This includes how the region supports and enables existing and new business, the role of regulation, importance for local people to benefit and for ongoing communication and education of the benefits of aquaculture to maintain social license.
It articulates a pathway forward with 9 focus areas, 5 goals and 17 key actions.
It also details a number of aquaculture projects at various stages of development ranging from open ocean and land-based salmon farming to early-stage land-based farming of pāua, whitebait and seaweed at Ocean Beach Aquaculture Hub.
The Pathway acknowledges that to realise the full potential of aquaculture in Murihiku requires, enduring collaboration and unified leadership is required. The success of this Pathway depends on the strength of partnerships across Te Waipounamu’s southernmost region — including Te Rūnaka o Awarua, the wider Murihiku Papatipu Rūnanga, local and regional government, industry, business, and community stakeholders. These diverse leadership voices carry shared responsibility for ensuring that the aquaculture pathway is sustainable, inclusive, and future-fit.
Implementation of the Pathway is already underway and will be facilitated by Great South in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders and businesses.
