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Gibson said that while there were no recent estimates of the value of the country’s freshwater sport fishing industry, he believed it was worth “more than a billion dollars” a year.
“New Zealand is known internationally as [being] among the top two or three destinations in the world for tourist fishermen, “Gibson said.
“Tourist fishermen spend a lot. They come here, they put in a lot of money and most of that money tends to go to regions where the trout are, regions like Central Otago, Taupo, Rotorua.”
Gibson said that in other countries where trout farming had been tried, such as Australia, it had been a “financial disaster.”
“It is not economical to grow trout in the same way that we grow salmon,” he said. “Salmon grows very fast [but] It will take at least a decade for the trout to reach the size of a two-year-old salmon. So all they are producing, particularly in hot climates, is a trout that weighs around 500g and they are trying to put that on the market and the public is not interested in that.
“So economically it is a disaster and around the world they have failed to overcome the wide range of trout diseases that tend to get into those situations.”
Another consequence of allowing commercial trout farming was the risk of poaching, Gibson said.
“We already have a slight problem with this in areas like Rotorua where people are frequently caught helping themselves with trout … so it will be very difficult to know if someone has a trout, if it is a trout.” bought in a store or if it is one that has been stolen. “
The commercial farming of trout and the sale of wild-caught trout are currently prohibited by the Conservation Law and the Fisheries Law, which means that a change in law would be required to give the green light to trout farming.
“What we’re really doing is saying we don’t need that change in the law because that change in the law would seriously threaten the livelihoods as well as the recreational enjoyment of many people,” Gibson said.
The Fish and Game Council has also opposed a law change, saying it sees trout farming as a threat to the country’s sport fishing industry and reputation.
However, according to the report from the Primary Production Committee, several iwi, Trout New Zealand and the Bay of Plenty Aquaculture Organization supported the proposal.
While noting the objections of those opposed to the proposal, the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) said it recognized that the legalization of trout farming could bring potential economic benefits to the country, according to the select committee report.
Should legalization continue, MPI said it recommended reviewing the risks associated with the practice, including risks related to biosecurity and disease, poaching and the wild trout population. He also said that a review of the economic potential should be carried out.
The Primary Production Committee said it was “disappointed that the evidence provided by MPI put a strong emphasis on the reasons for opposition to commercial trout farming,” but said after considering “the available evidence describing the benefits and costs of legalizing commercial farming and sale of trout “, he believed” could be a viable option for New Zealand. “
