Aquaculture expansion across ASEAN is full of opportunity, but “where to grow” is the make-or-break question for sustainability, livelihoods, and investment confidence. The World Bank has commissioned EnviroStrat to undertake a study that will support the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Department of Aquaculture Development (DAD) within the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries with planning decisions regarding suitable locations for the sustainable expansion of freshwater aquaculture. The project will produce a set of clear maps showing where freshwater aquaculture is most likely to work well — and where it isn’t using GIS and Multi Criteria Analysis. These maps…
For years, the scallop shell has been a symbol of Kiwi summers – its meat golden-seared on a barbecue, skewered at a bach, or piled high at Whitianga’s famous Scallop Festival. But beneath the nostalgia lies something far less celebratory: New Zealand’s wild scallop populations have collapsed, their once-abundant beds dredged, degraded and, in many cases, destroyed. Much of what we believed about scallops, from spawning behaviour to habitat preferences, is incomplete, borrowed from work overseas, or only partially tested in New Zealand conditions. “We’ve taken a species we barely understood,” says Dr Jenny Hillman - a marine scientist at University of Auckland, “dredged it…
The way in which New Zealand manages land and water (ICM) holds value that stretches far beyond our borders. Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM), as it’s known in Southeast Asia, is the focus of a major project for EnviroStrat, members of which recently visited seven Southeast Asian nations on a field mission as part of our work for the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA). PEMSEA has 11 Country Partners (CP) and 21 Non-Country Partners. Supported by the Global Environment Facility, the Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) Project is working to set-up functional management mechanisms…
By Laura Read EnviroStrat Geospatial Analyst EnviroStrat is combining geospatial analysis, Earth Observation (EO) and impact ventures to accelerate restoration of New Zealand’s coastal ecosystems. Since joining EnviroStrat in 2023, I’ve been building our GIS and Earth Observation capability to better understand and support our impact ventures aimed at regenerating our natural environments. The ORA Reefs project has initially been focused on clearing kina barrens, a symptom of the overfishing of their key predators and global warming. This phenomenon is not just seen in Aotearoa but globally. Once healthy, thriving kelp forests are reduced to barren areas by sea urchin…
"Earlier this month I had the privilege of attending the STEMtastic Adventures for Young Pacific Leaders Symposium (9–11 September) hosted at Fiji National University’s Namaka Campus. It was my first time in Fiji, and I left feeling inspired, challenged, and deeply grateful for the connections and conversations I was part of. "The symposium created a space to reimagine STEM through Pacific perspectives. It reminded me of the Pacific tradition of wayfinding where the ocean connects rather than divides us. That spirit of connection was at the heart of every conversation, whether about education, culture, or innovation. "I had the opportunity…
Now is the time to support and scale what works and ensure finance flows to where it can drive real, lasting impact.
Natasha Jacobs
I would say to young people worried about the state of the ocean and climate, don’t be too doom and gloom about it. I know it’s really hard, and I know it can be really sad and scary sometimes – but when you start to meet people that are working in this space, you realise just how many people actually care.
EnviroStrat owns 50% of New Zealand’s largest specialist aquaculture consultancy; Aquaculture Direct Ltd. Aquaculture is a huge growth opportunity for New Zealand and EnviroStrat felt that supplementing its core scientific, economic and financial capabilities with deep technical aquaculture skills would provide a unique opportunity in the New Zealand and international aquaculture sector. Our work in aquaculture since acquiring Aquaculture Direct has blended their world-class technical and operational expertise with EnviroStrat's in-house understanding of business growth, the blue economy and project development.
EnviroStrat proudly owns and operates New Zealand’s first regenerative ocean farming initiative, dedicated to advancing sustainable seaweed cultivation. Our regenerative farming approach requires zero external inputs—no added nutrients or feeds—yet yields significant economic, social, and environmental benefits. Through Greenwave Aotearoa’s innovative commercial model, we are restoring ocean ecosystems, capturing blue carbon, and removing excess nutrients from marine environments. The cultivated seaweed offers versatile applications, including food, biostimulants, animal supplements, and pharmaceuticals. In partnership with GreenWave US, we are executing a $5 million, three-year pilot project designed to establish a high-value, sustainable seaweed sector in Aotearoa New Zealand. Find out more…
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,…
