NZ Federation of Freshwater Anglers

Policy:
The Federation opposes the commercial farming and/or canning of trout, and the
importation of fresh salmonoid flesh as risks to NZ freshwater sports fish, and the
tourism and freshwater fishing industries the sport supports in New Zealand.
Opposition to the commercial farming of trout.

Rationale:
It’s a no-brainer really. The reasons to not allow the commercial farming of trout
hugely outnumber and outweigh any reasons to allow it. Despite that, the Federation
has had to vigorously oppose the introduction of trout farming from its inception to
the present day. Sadly, common sense is not a currency those bankrolling fish farming
are used to dealing in. 4
Here are some of the reasons why we oppose it. They can be broadly grouped into six
categories, vis;
• A recreational asset
• Pollution
• Disease and Food Values
• Genetic modification and dilution
• Poaching and commercialisation
• Sustainability and resources
A number of the arguments, literature, and material quoted are derived from studies of
salmon farms. As such, they are directly relevant to the farming of trout, particularly
rainbow trout. Salmon, being seen as a more ‘desirable’ and profitable product, is
more often farmed and studied than trout, which is seen as an inferior product with
marginal economic returns. However, these facts and arguments are also something
that you might like to think about the next time you see salmon for sale at your local
supermarket or fish shop.
Ken Sims
New Zealand Federation of Freshwater Anglers (Inc)
17 February 2010

Read the article here: NZFFA Policy on the commercialisation of Recreational Sport Fishing