New owner for New Zealand oyster hatchery

摘要

The Iwi-owned Aotearoa Fisheries Ltd (AFL) seafood company of New Zealand has signed an agreement with the Cawthron Institute that the company says establishes a new partnership with the research institute and transfers to AFL the institute's Pacificoyster hatchery and nursery, located at Glenduan, north of Nelson. Included in the deal are Cawthron's spat-growing operations. Three of Cawthron's staff will be seconded to AFL. AFL, trading as Kia Ora Seafoods and Pacific Marine Farms, had acquired Sanford NZ Ltd's North Island Pacific oyster farms last year, and was already the largest Pacific oyster company in the country and one of New Zealand's biggest fishing- and seafood businesses.General Manager of Aquaculture, Don Collier, said in a company statement that the new agreement with Cawthron ..made sense from two perspectives.. ."Their oyster business' growth plans are based on making available the highest quality Pacific oysters,which are bred from wild parents selected for traits that enhance 'plate appeal.'