Aquaculture and Commerical Fisheries of the Hauraki Gulf
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"Today, September 30 1999, we spent the entire day on a mussel barge collecting data on the green-shelled mussel. The data gathered will be incorporated into my individual research project based on marine aquaculture. The preliminary goal of this project is to obtain valuable information concerning the status of marine mussel farming in the Hauraki Gulf. I hope to gain enough data to establish a baseline related to growth rates of juvenile mussels, and set up a continuing research initiative that will be carried on by future students here with the ultimate objective of benefiting the local mussel farmers." -Chris Meany, Fall 1999 EcoQuest Student |
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After a long history of high catch rates from fishing and shellfish gathering, there has been a population decline in recent years of most species targeted for human consumption. For marine farming to become sustainable, and to effectively replace the wild fishery and generate income for the coastal communities, the oceanographic processes at work in this ecosystem must be better understood.
 Mark Aislabie, Mussel Farmer and Scallop Fisherman |
Spring '02 students at the local mussel farm |