Chapter 6
New Zealand Aquaculture Industry Initiative:
Collingwood Case Study
Helen Smale
Introduction
This case study demonstrates the benefits of regulators, scientists, and industry
managers collaborating, including where that collaboration goes beyond what
we normally take to be the boundaries of growing water quality management.
It explores an unexplained and previously undetected bacterial contamination of
Collingwood growing areas that was detected by routine testing. To protect market
access, a progressive tightening of the harvest criteria was imposed until the time
open for harvest was reduced from 72 % to less than 50 %. This added significantly
to test costs, impacted shellfish farming economics and compromised the operation
of the processing factories because of interruptions to supply.
As managers of the water quality programme, we were confronted with two
challenges:
1. Identify the source or sources of contamination; and
2. Design and implement a strategy to manage the contamination.
Each of us face different combinations of circumstances and the model adopted
and specific conclusions may not have universal application but individual elements
and subsequent developments will definitely prove of value to those having to
manage similar situations. One thing that marine farming industries around the
world share is that we all farm “the commons” – the public space. Ultimately we rely
upon public good will and public cooperation to ensure access to our growing areas
through appropriate resource management legislation and the maintenance of the
quality of our growing waters. We also share that space with other users, including
many who use it deliberately and legally to dispose of industrial, agricultural and
H. Smale ()
Marlborough Shellfish Quality Programme Inc (MSQP), PO Box 767,
Blenheim 7240, New Zealand
e-mail: msqp@xtra.co.nz
G. Sauv´ e (ed.), Molluscan Shellfish Safety, DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-6588-7 6,
© Springer ScienceCBusiness Media Dordrecht 2014
65
New Zealand Aquaculture Industry Initiative:
Collingwood Case Study
Helen Smale
Introduction
This case study demonstrates the benefits of regulators, scientists, and industry
managers collaborating, including where that collaboration goes beyond what
we normally take to be the boundaries of growing water quality management.
It explores an unexplained and previously undetected bacterial contamination of
Collingwood growing areas that was detected by routine testing. To protect market
access, a progressive tightening of the harvest criteria was imposed until the time
open for harvest was reduced from 72 % to less than 50 %. This added significantly
to test costs, impacted shellfish farming economics and compromised the operation
of the processing factories because of interruptions to supply.
As managers of the water quality programme, we were confronted with two
challenges:
1. Identify the source or sources of contamination; and
2. Design and implement a strategy to manage the contamination.
Each of us face different combinations of circumstances and the model adopted
and specific conclusions may not have universal application but individual elements
and subsequent developments will definitely prove of value to those having to
manage similar situations. One thing that marine farming industries around the
world share is that we all farm “the commons” – the public space. Ultimately we rely
upon public good will and public cooperation to ensure access to our growing areas
through appropriate resource management legislation and the maintenance of the
quality of our growing waters. We also share that space with other users, including
many who use it deliberately and legally to dispose of industrial, agricultural and
H. Smale ()
Marlborough Shellfish Quality Programme Inc (MSQP), PO Box 767,
Blenheim 7240, New Zealand
e-mail: msqp@xtra.co.nz
G. Sauv´ e (ed.), Molluscan Shellfish Safety, DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-6588-7 6,
© Springer ScienceCBusiness Media Dordrecht 2014
65