Whitebait pilot facility project
Project start: 15 December 2021
Project completed: 18 January 2023
MPI funding: $988,011
Industry funding: $1,414,853
Industry partner: Premium Marine Technology Limited
Region: Southland
This project built a pilot whitebait production facility in Bluff, demonstrating that it is feasible to continuously produce whitebait to service domestic demand. The facility is scalable, and a market and price points have been identified.
Land-based commercial whitebait farm launches in Bluff
First land-based commercial whitebait farm launches in Bluff − Stuff
Māui drone project
Project start: 6 May 2020
Project completed: 1 November 2022
MPI funding: $588,942
Industry funding: $724,750
Industry partner: Sanford, Moana New Zealand, WWF New Zealand
Region: North Island
The project demonstrated the use of aerial drones and artificial intelligence to gain a greater understanding of Māui and Hector’s dolphin habitats and movements. New surveying methods and communication tools have been developed to inform industry of the dolphin locations and enable data-driven decisions to better protect them.
Drone project to aid protection of Māui dolphin – Government media release
Māui Drone Project – using technology to save the Māui dolphin (3.34) – YouTube
Scaling up production of microalgal metabolites for commercial use
Project start: September 2020
Project completed: September 2022
MPI funding: $800,000
Industry funding: $1,200,000
Industry partner: Cawthron Institute
Region: Nelson
This project aimed to take a crucial step towards establishing commercial production of neosaxitoxin (NeoSTX), a potent toxin found in the microalgae Alexandrium pacificum, to develop the world’s first algal-based pain relief. Clinical development of NeoSTX has shown that it acts as a unique nerve-blocking compound and delivers extended pain relief in surgical patients. Cawthron has now developed a scalable process for producing NeoSTX to deliver clinical and commercially relevant quantities, and it’s hoped this will assist with taking NeoSTX through to Phase 2 clinical trials with Cawthron’s international partners.
Ngā Huruhuru Waitai ō Tangaroa
Project start: 21 September 2021
Project completed: 20 September 2022
MPI funding: $120,000
Industry funding: $20,000
Industry partner: Ngai Tumapuhia a Rangi ki Motuwairaka Incorporated
Region: Māhia, Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa
The project set out to improve information and insights to advance the sustainable use of marine resources in a way that protects tikanga Māori and taonga kai in the forum area of the Māhia, Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa regions. It improved collaboration, understanding and engagement with key groups in these areas through wānanga and training workshops. It also supported the forum strategy for improved water safety, research opportunities, and wānanga/training delivery planning. Tangata Kaitiaki, customary fishers, whānau/hapū involved in the project have reported feeling invigorated, motivated and inspired to learn more about sustainable management within the context of law and lore to support the legal framework and honour mātauranga Māori.
Marine sector adaptation strategy
Project start: 17 November 2020
Project completed: 10 May 2022
MPI funding: $165,000
Industry funding: $186,000
Industry partner: The Aotearoa Circle Trust
Region: Nationwide
The project developed a long-term adaptation strategy for New Zealand’s seafood sector that seeks to reduce climate-related risks, build resilience, and capture emerging opportunities. The strategy forms a framework for coordinated and complementary action by government, iwi, businesses, civil society, and science providers. It includes impact indicators and priority actions to be implemented by key stakeholders.
Seafood sector adaptation strategy
Evaluating management procedures and development of a Harvest Control Rule for BCO 5
Project start: 1 March 2021
Project completed: 29 June 2021
MPI funding: $32,000
Industry funding: $48,000
Industry partners: BCO 5 Association Inc
Region: Southland
This project modelled various harvest strategies for commercial blue cod in Southland – BCO5. A harvest control rule was developed that allows for annual changes to the BCO5 Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC). The modelling showed that this provides better sustainability than fixed-harvest TACC settings. The new BCO5 harvest control rule is ready to go out for consultation in 2022.
Te Moana-a-Toi Aquaculture: Business Case for Nga Iwi Te Rohe o Te Waiariki
Project start: 1 February 2021
Project completed: 29 November 2021
MPI funding: $546,000
Industry funding: $230,400
Industry partners: Te Kotahitanga O Te Arawa Waka Fisheries Trust Board
Region: Bay of Plenty
This project developed a set of models and business cases to inform potential iwi investment in aquaculture in the Bay of Plenty. It successfully promoted growth in the region and the aquaculture industry, and contributed to establishing processes and technologies that could be transferred to other regions and industries.
Transforming mussel waste into valuable product
Project start: 17 November 2020
Project completed: August 2021
MPI funding: $313,000
Industry funding: $471,000
Industry partner: Environmental Decontamination (NZ) Limited
Region: Auckland/Tauranga
Currently, mussel shell waste is sent to landfill at a cost to both producers and the environment. This project assessed the potential of an innovative mechanochemical technology to transform mussel shells into calcium carbonate products for use across industry sectors.
Grinding mussel shells into calcium carbonate offers high-value waste solution – MPI media release
Mussel float attachment project
Project start: 21 December 2020
Project completed: 10 August 2021
MPI funding: $72,500
Industry funding: $72,200
Industry partner: S&S Development (2020) Limited
Region: Tasman/Marlborough
This project has developed a float attachment system for longline mussel farming. This system will withstand the rough conditions of open water without float loss and completely eliminate the use of plastic rope for attachment, which currently is being lost at sea.
New design aims to avoid runaway floats in mussel farming
Commercial seaweed aquaculture to reduce agricultural methane emissions
Project start: 5 November 2019
Project completed: 9 December 2020
MPI funding: $100,000
Industry funding: $150,000
Industry partner: Cawthron Institute
Region: Nationwide
This project aimed to substantially reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions through a seaweed-based cattle feed supplement. Cawthron Institute is continuing to research the lifecycle of Asparagopsis seaweed to inform the development of an early proof-of-concept of the production systems needed to develop the feed supplement at pilot-scale.
Methane reducing cattle feed one step closer – Government media release
Building a resilient future for New Zealand oyster aquaculture
Project start: 15 October 2019
Project completed: 20 April 2020
MPI funding: $45,000
Industry funding: $15,000
Industry partner: AquacultureNZ
Region: Northland
The resilience of the oyster industry is challenged by the seasonal supply of spat (juvenile oysters). This project developed a business case to establish a commercial-scale oyster hatchery and nursery that would provide a strong foundation for sustainable growth of the oyster industry in New Zealand.
Brown seaweed for a blue economy
Project start: 10 August 2019
Project completed: 3 February 2021
MPI funding:$325,600
Industry funding: $488,400
Industry partner: Waikaitu Ltd
Region: Marlborough
This project aimed to transform New Zealand Undaria seaweed, Undaria pinnatifida, from a costly mussel-industry pest to a sustainable, high value global market resource. A pilot plant was established and a feasibility study was conducted, which concluded that this is a feasible industry for future development and growth.
Pest seaweed products set to hit export market – NZ Herald
Wakame Fresh – Project Wakatipu
Project start: 20 May 2019
Project completed: 19 December 2019
MPI funding: $75,200
Industry funding: $114,182
Industry partner: Wakame Fresh Ltd
Region: Waikato
Project Whakatiputipu aimed to demonstrate the commercial viability of harvesting, processing and exporting edible seaweed products into Japan. They conducted a feasibility study, including planning and finalising an approach to trial export of samples of wakame for market research.
Government backs edible seaweed venture – Government media release
