The blue economy encompasses aquatic environment activities, from traditional community development initiatives like fishing to emerging industries such as renewable ocean energies and marine biotechnology.
The blue economy reflects a growing recognition of the ocean’s critical role in economic growth, environmental protection, and social progress as well as food security and women and gender issues.
Stuff reported on New Zealand’s first planting of hatchery grown seaweed in Coromandel waters, noting that it could be the beginning of a new sector for the aquaculture industry. Alongside Dr Nigel Bradly, EnviroStrat CEO, GreenWaveNZ partners Dr Rebecca Lawton from the University of Waikato and Lucas Evans, CEO of Premium Seas were interviewed about the pilot. First seaweed planting in Coromandel waters historic moment for aquaculture | October 2022
The Bay of Plenty Times reported on the GreenWaveNZ pilot seaweed outplanting. Dr Nigel Bradly, EnviroStrat CEO, was interviewed at the event. “What’s really historic about today is this is the first time in New Zealand that we’ve had Ecklonia grown in a hatchery and put onto a farm. What we’re seeing now, we hope, is the start of something exciting, where we’re able to help ocean farmers create a supply chain with seaweed as a part, or all, of what they do.” First seaweed seedlings in the Hauraki Gulf for new industry | October 2022
GreenWave Aotearoa is an innovative three-year regenerative ocean farming pilot that began in mid-2021. Led by EnviroStrat, in partnership with Ng?i 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…
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,…
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 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 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 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 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.
Programme co-ordinator for TEEF since January 2018. The Co-ordinator facilitates the development of new projects including assistance with funding applications, project identification, relationship management, and project oversight with the aim of helping the forum to achieve its goals.
