政府支持新建贻贝幼苗育苗中心（mussel spat nursery）
新西兰政府将支持在北地 Houhora Bay 建设一个贻贝幼苗育苗中心，以提升新西兰“Greenshell 绿唇贻贝”产业的原料供应稳定性。该项目由地区发展副部长 Mark Patterson 宣布。
Patterson表示，新西兰贻贝产业是高价值食品与出口产业，但高度依赖野生采集的贻贝幼苗（spat）。这种供应往往不稳定，容易造成短缺，并限制养殖者充分利用已获批的海域空间。
他说：“这笔来自区域基础设施基金（RIF）的450万纽币贷款，将有助于突破行业增长瓶颈，使贻贝幼苗供应更加可靠。”
项目概况
该项目名为 Te Hiku Aquaculture Mussel Spat Project，由特殊目的实体 Akau 负责实施，该实体由四个 iwi（毛利部族）组成，包括：
- Te Aupōuri
- Te Rarawa
- Ngāi Takoto
- Ngāti Kahu
其中 Te Aupōuri Fisheries Management Limited 将代表联盟负责育苗中心开发。
参与的 iwi 还将共同投入130万纽币配套资金。
建设内容与产能
育苗中心将建设最多150条贻贝养殖线，分阶段推进：
- 第一阶段建设90条养殖线
- 预计每年可生产约700吨贻贝幼苗
- 幼苗将在生长初期培育后再转运至全国各地养殖场
该设施预计将提高幼苗存活率，从而提升整个贻贝养殖产业效率。
经济与就业影响
项目预计将为五个 iwi 合作伙伴带来长期收益，同时在建设期创造约10个就业岗位，正式运营后提供约5个永久岗位。
Patterson表示，该项目与政府《水产养殖发展计划》一致，该计划目标是到2035年将行业年收入提升至30亿纽币。
审批进展
该项目目前正通过“快速审批（Fast-track consent）”流程推进，作为 Muriwhenua 水产养殖申请的一部分。
政府强调，在取得相关许可前，贷款资金不会正式拨付。
The government is supporting the establishment of a mussel spat nursery in Houhora Bay, Northland to help boost supply for New Zealand’s Greenshell mussel industry, Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson says.
“The New Zealand mussel industry is a high value food and export sector that relies heavily on wild-caught spat. That supply is often unpredictable leading to shortages and limiting the ability of our mussel farmers to fully utilise their consented marine space,” Mr Patterson says.
“This $4.5 million Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) loan will help overcome barriers to growth in the sector and make New Zealand’s spat supply more reliable.”
Te Hiku Aquaculture Mussel Spat Project will be delivered by Akau, a special purpose vehicle formed by four iwi which includes Te Aupōuri, Te Rarawa, Ngāi Takoto and Ngāti Kahu. Te Aupōuri Fisheries Management Limited will lead the nursery development on behalf of the collective.
The iwi partners are contributing $1.3 million in co-funding.
The nursery will include up to 150 mussel lines, developed in stages. The first stage will establish 90 lines which are expected to produce around 700 tonnes of spat per year. The nursey will improve survival rates before mussels are transferred to farms nationwide.
The project is expected to deliver long-term returns for the five iwi partners, and create around 10 jobs during construction and five permanent roles once operational.
“This investment aligns with the Government’s Aquaculture Development Plan, which aims to grow the industry to $3 billion in annual revenue by 2035,” Mr Patterson says.
The project is progressing through the Fast-track consent process as part of the broader Muriwhenua Aquaculture application. Securing consent is a condition that must be met before any loan funding is drawn down for the project.
