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Coastal, Marine & Blue EconomyOur WorkStrategy, Research & Analysis

Innovative three-year seaweed farming pilot to demonstrate seaweed’s potential for New Zealand’s blue economy

GreenWave Aotearoa is an innovative three-year regenerative ocean farming pilot that began in mid-2021. Led by EnviroStrat, in partnership with Ngāi Tai ki Tamaki,Premium Seas Ltd, the Universities of Waikato and Auckland and AgriSea, the $5 million pilot is focused on creating an economically viable seed-to-harvest model for seaweed farming inNew Zealand. Taking place on existing consented aquaculturefarm sites in the Hauraki Gulf, supported by hatcheries in the Coromandel and Tauranga, the pilot is developing on-water infrastructure and growing techniques, post-harvesting logistics and product development. In doing so, GreenWave Aotearoa seeks to optimise productivity (and therefore commercial viability) of seaweed…
EnviroStrat
September 14, 2022
Coastal, Marine & Blue EconomyOur WorkUncategorised

From ‘assessment to investment’: the transition to a blue economy in India

About the client With 189 member countries, the World Bank Group is a unique global partnership that is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries. Its five institutions are working for sustainable solutions that reduce poverty, build shared prosperity in developing countries and promote sustainable development. Executive Summary The World Bank and Government of India had been collaborating to develop a long-term programme to direct funding and resources to coastal and marine management. The Enhancing Coastal and Ocean Resource Efficiency (ENCORE) programme will help India enhance its coastal resources, protect coastal populations from pollution,…
EnviroStrat
June 23, 2022
Central Gov'tCoastal, Marine & Blue EconomyOur WorkStrategy, Research & AnalysisUncategorised

Supporting the growth of New Zealand’s rapidly evolving seaweed sector

About the client Established in 2014, the Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge is a 10-year, two phase government-funded research programme set up to address how we can best develop our marine economy, while protecting the taonga of our marine environment. Executive Summary EnviroStrat has been a significant contributor to the Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge blue economy workstream. In 2018/2019 we led a research project to identify marine activities that have the potential to create economic value whilst contributing positively to social, cultural and ecological wellbeing in New Zealand. This included a stocktake of national and international blue economy developments,…
EnviroStrat
June 23, 2022
Coastal, Marine & Blue EconomyIwiOur WorkProject & Programme ManagementStrategy, Research & Analysis

Chatham Rock Phosphate (Managing the response to a proposal for Deep Sea Phosphate Mining)

EnviroStrat successfully led the response of New Zealand’s largest tribe to a proposal for deep sea phosphate mining on the Chatham Rise, NZ. Developed and executed a strategy to refute the evidence presented by the applicant through a 3 month hearing process, including engaging and managing experts in economics, ecology, ecotoxicology, planning, and international best practice. There were a number of unresolved issues, including the impact on existing fisheries and cultural interests, the need for adaptive management in the context of very large infrastructure development, restoration techniques using the precautionary principle, and the reliance of modelling as a proxy for…
EnviroStrat
February 12, 2020
Coastal, Marine & Blue EconomyImpact Project Develop'tOur WorkPrivate

Bycatch- Free Fish Trap- Feasibility assessment

EnviroStrat led the development and testing of the prototype of a bycatch-free fish trap. The trap is designed to improve the selectivity of commercial fishing by eliminating bycatch of non-target species and juvenile fish, and removes risk to seabirds, and impacts on marine mammals. EnviroStrat thoroughly investigated the feasibility of the device and carried out a trial of the prototype in the Leigh Harbour lasting 5 months to test its effectiveness in meeting the success criteria for the project. A number of challenges with the design aspects of the prototype were identified and solutions to fix these were provided to…
EnviroStrat
February 12, 2020
Coastal, Marine & Blue EconomyImpact Project Develop'tIwiOur Work

Mussel Spat Farm Investment Case – 90 Mile Beach

EnviroStrat prepared the Investment Case for an open ocean 1,200 ha Mussel Spat Farm off 90 Mile Beach for three far north tribes and the aquaculture sector to address a critical risk to future growth of the mussel sector. EnviroStrat worked with the three tribes, industry, stakeholders, and MPI, as well as potential investors throughout the process. The investment case involved strategic assessment, consideration of social, environmental, cultural and economic factors, detailed financial modelling, legal analysis and engineering design.
EnviroStrat
February 12, 2020
Coastal, Marine & Blue EconomyImpact Project Develop'tOur WorkPrivate

Feasibility of seafood sector Impact Investment in the Hauraki Gulf

EnviroStrat led a study, funded by Foundation North, into the feasibility of impact investment to provide the pathway to a high value, low impact seafood sector in the Hauraki Gulf. This included several elements of the fishery sector; shelving fishing quota, converting the current trawling fleet to more sustainable methods, development of high value salt water fishing tourism, development of fin fish aquaculture, and the creation of a sustainable fishery brand for the Hauraki Gulf.
EnviroStrat
February 12, 2020
Central Gov'tCoastal, Marine & Blue EconomyOur WorkProject & Programme ManagementStrategy, Research & Analysis

Economic Impact Joint Venture Studies

As part of the National Government freshwater reforms, EnviroStrat ran a team of economists, scientists and social scientists with an overall budget of several million dollars developing a series of integrated economic models to assess the implications of different policy scenarios across a range of uses of fresh water. EnviroStrat’s role was highly complex and involved managing >35 contracts in excess of $2.5M. The programme was run in a series of joint ventures between local councils, sector groups and central government agencies (MPI, MFE, DOC), and linking science, policy, and economics with government decision making. The ability to synthesise multiple…
EnviroStrat
February 12, 2020
Coastal, Marine & Blue EconomyInternat'lOur WorkStrategy, Research & Analysis

UN Rio +20 Blue Economy Review

EnviroStrat was appointed by the Intergovernmental Oceanic Commission of UNESCO as lead author of a cross-UN paper Blueprint for Ocean Sustainability – the core UN Oceans policy paper leading to the 2012 Rio+20 Global Environmental Summit. This paper provided the UN Oceans agencies with a succinct summary of the current issues and problems in the world’s oceans, and identified ten proposals for future action that were intended to galvanise both UN agencies and member states at the recent Rio+20 Conference.
EnviroStrat
February 12, 2020