Aquaculture New Zealand

05/10/2026

As we gear up for our annual conference in Nelson on 14–15 October, we want to say a big thank you to our gold sponsors.

Today we're spotlighting Scale AQ and Talley's Limited.

Their support helps us deliver a strong, high-quality event, and shows real confidence in the future of our sector.

29/09/2026

Dayle Snowden didn't know if it was finfish or shellfish she wanted to work with, she just knew she wanted to be in aquaculture.

Growing up fishing Tasman Bay and the Marlborough Sounds, she'd planned on farming, until a chat with her school careers advisor pointed her to the Diploma in Aquaculture and Fisheries Management at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) .

She completed four placements during her studies and says, 'that's where you really learn.' One at New Zealand King Salmon turned into a hatchery job.

Several years on, she's a Nursery Technician at Moana New Zealand working with oysters and still using the same core skills.

Now Dayle is the one opening doors. She supports Gateway school placements in Nelson and talks with students and careers advisors through Aquaculture New Zealand webinars and expos.

Read her full story on our website, link below

26/09/2026

"We saw a gap in the market and built a product to fill it."

That's exactly what Southern Salmon Lights founder Riaan Van der Westhuizen did.

From its start in Twizel, the company has since developed specialised underwater lighting systems now used throughout New Zealand's salmon industry and increasingly overseas.

The technology is also being used in trout and kingfish farming, with applications for species such as kelp and prawns currently being explored

A great story of innovation, problem-solving and homegrown aquaculture technology - full story on our website below 💡🌊

24/09/2026

Meet Hiroki Wada – Technical Lead - Feeding and Logistics at Akaroa Salmon New Zealand.

For Hiroki, aquaculture has been part of his life since childhood.

Growing up in Nepal, he often joined his father in the field, who worked in trout breeding and aquaculture development.

At just 17, he moved to Nelson to study the Diploma in Aquaculture at NMIT.

His advice to anyone considering aquaculture?

“If you care about the environment and want to make an impact on sustainability, aquaculture is worth exploring. You don’t need a degree. Passion and drive matter more.”

Want to hear more about Hiroki’s journey? Read his full profile on our website 👇

21/09/2026

A new video from the Cawthron Institute and Biosecurity New Zealand looks at the Level of Fouling Scale, a marine biosecurity tool that provides a consistent way for biosecurity teams to score how much growth has built up on a boat's underwater surfaces, from 0 to 5.

With insights from Marlborough District Council, Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Patuharakeke Te Iwi Trust Board the video highlights the importance of hull surveillance in protecting marine biodiversity, boating waters, and our industry.

Worth a watch if you're on the water, or just want to understand why hull maintenance is part of protecting the industry - link below.

A new video explains how the Level of Fouling Scale helps biosecurity teams assess fouling on boats and reduce the risk of marine pests spreading around New Zealand.

18/09/2026

Queen Charlotte College’s aquaculture programme is helping develop the workforce of tomorrow. With hands-on experience across shellfish and salmon farming, as well as dive certification opportunities, students are gaining the practical skills our sector will rely on for years to come.

15/09/2026

Meet Mikayla Bennett, Environmental Manager for Mt Cook Alpine Salmon.

By feeding smolt, working across different farms, and spending time in the hatchery, Mikayla gained experience across multiple areas of the operation and was constantly learning.

Today, she leads a team of aquaculture scientists, working across environmental monitoring, compliance, sustainability, and production.

Her career has shown her just how much the sector has changed.

“When I first started, I was the only woman on the farm. Now women are everywhere.”

For Mikayla, that constant opportunity to learn is what keeps her hooked.

Read more about Mikayla’s career journey on our website ⬇️

14/09/2026

Five kupu (words) to learn as we celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori language week).

Kūtai, hāmana, tio, te ahumoana, kaitiakitanga — From the kai (food) on your plate to the principle behind how it gets there.

10/09/2026

Even while he was still at school, Mark Jackson knew he wanted a career on the water. Today, he's an Aquaculture Technician with New Zealand King Salmon (NZKS) working in the stunning Queen Charlotte Sound.

Mark got his start through the Gateway programme at Marlborough Boys' College, spending one day a week at NZKS's Ruakākā Bay farm.

"Gateway was great, I really enjoyed it and got straight into it," says Mark.

The experience helped him build skills, gain industry knowledge, and secure a full-time job offer at just 17.

"I think they saw my enthusiasm and quite liked my work ethic."

Now undertaking skipper and dive training, Mark sees a bright future in aquaculture.

His advice? "Talk to your school careers team, get some work experience, then give 100 percent and show them what you've got."

Read Mark’s story on our website 👇

09/09/2026

Aquaculture's impact reaches far beyond the farm.

In Mohua / Golden Bay, aquaculture is helping create lasting social, environmental and economic benefits for the community.

Through the Golden Bay Community Trust, revenue from community-owned marine farm water space is reinvested into local initiatives, supporting everything from education and community wellbeing to arts, recreation and environmental projects. Since 2021, the trust has distributed more than $400,000 in grants across the region.

One of those is to a reef restoration project led by the Mohua Marine Trust. Concrete reef balls (pictured) placed near Onekaka Wharf are already showing signs of life, with kelp, algae and fish moving in just months after they went into the water.

This is a great example of how partnerships between industry, community organisations and environmental groups can deliver meaningful outcomes for both people and nature.