66
H. Smale
municipal effluent. That effluent discharge can often arise tens if not hundreds of
kilometres from the growing areas and the actual contamination of the water is often
ephemeral but concentrated in the molluscs.
It is worth noting that, in contrast to some countries where once an area is
classified for growing, certain legal protections of the water quality exist, no such
protection currently exists in New Zealand.
Identifying the source of contamination was seriously constrained by the absence
of any available methodology to link the bacteria found in the marine farm site
samples with the potential sources of contamination. In retrospect that constraint
took us down a valuable learning pathway and by applying the lessons learned
alongside microbial source tracking that we now have available, we now have a
powerful model for addressing the sorts of issues contained in this case study.
Explain the New Zealand User Pays System
and Self Regulation
Two things distinguish New Zealand’s approach to water quality management. First
is that we operate under a user pays model whereby industry funds the services
provided by the regulatory and science agencies. Second, industry, under oversight
and audit by the regulators, self manages and directly funds large parts of the
programme.
The net effect of these is a highly efficient and innovative system, an exceptionally high level of compliance and a high level of responsibility taken by industry for
innovation related to maintaining water quality and addressing any issues that arise.
It hinges around a collaborative approach where the constructive tensions between
the scientists, regulators and industry drives continuous improvement – something
that we are all very proud of.
Description of the Growing Area and Surrounding Influences
The growing area in question is located approximately 1.5 km offshore near
Collingwood and to the North of the Aorere River Mouth/Ruataniwha Inlet in the
north west of the South Island of New Zealand. This river, subject to substantial
flow variations, discharges into the sea approximately 3 km south of this growing
area. For over 90 % of the time, the Aorere’s flow rate is less than 15 m
3 /s. However
floods are frequent and peak flow may reach 3,000 m
3 /s then rapidly return to a low
level, sometimes within a day. The river – due to its size, very large peak flows,
and proximity to the marine farms – has a large influence on water quality at the
Collingwood Farms.
H. Smale
municipal effluent. That effluent discharge can often arise tens if not hundreds of
kilometres from the growing areas and the actual contamination of the water is often
ephemeral but concentrated in the molluscs.
It is worth noting that, in contrast to some countries where once an area is
classified for growing, certain legal protections of the water quality exist, no such
protection currently exists in New Zealand.
Identifying the source of contamination was seriously constrained by the absence
of any available methodology to link the bacteria found in the marine farm site
samples with the potential sources of contamination. In retrospect that constraint
took us down a valuable learning pathway and by applying the lessons learned
alongside microbial source tracking that we now have available, we now have a
powerful model for addressing the sorts of issues contained in this case study.
Explain the New Zealand User Pays System
and Self Regulation
Two things distinguish New Zealand’s approach to water quality management. First
is that we operate under a user pays model whereby industry funds the services
provided by the regulatory and science agencies. Second, industry, under oversight
and audit by the regulators, self manages and directly funds large parts of the
programme.
The net effect of these is a highly efficient and innovative system, an exceptionally high level of compliance and a high level of responsibility taken by industry for
innovation related to maintaining water quality and addressing any issues that arise.
It hinges around a collaborative approach where the constructive tensions between
the scientists, regulators and industry drives continuous improvement – something
that we are all very proud of.
Description of the Growing Area and Surrounding Influences
The growing area in question is located approximately 1.5 km offshore near
Collingwood and to the North of the Aorere River Mouth/Ruataniwha Inlet in the
north west of the South Island of New Zealand. This river, subject to substantial
flow variations, discharges into the sea approximately 3 km south of this growing
area. For over 90 % of the time, the Aorere’s flow rate is less than 15 m
3 /s. However
floods are frequent and peak flow may reach 3,000 m
3 /s then rapidly return to a low
level, sometimes within a day. The river – due to its size, very large peak flows,
and proximity to the marine farms – has a large influence on water quality at the
Collingwood Farms.