The taste of fresh thinking

from Bream Bay - January 2022

What’s around the corner?

NIWA’s Northland Marine Research Centre (NMRC) in Ruakākā has been a thriving centre of aquaculture research for New Zealand for 20 years.

With increasing climate variability, growing consumer demand for premium products, and a concern for verifiable environmental credentials, the team at NMRC took on the challenge of bringing new aquaculture opportunities to New Zealand. The work aligns with the Northland Regional Council’s (NRC) ambitions to bring sustainable high worth employment to the region.

Investigations into species such as yellowtail kingfish, with its creamy-white flesh and sweet, rich flavour, identified it’s potential as a premium quality product that could contribute to New Zealand’s food industry in a sustainable way.

In the past, access to yellowtail kingfish has been restricted to seasonal and often sporadic wild catch. Now, thanks to the culmination of over 20 years of development from NIWA’s dedicated aquaculture team, it is farmed on land in Ruakākā. The fish are available year-round and harvested in peak condition.

The commercial phase is well underway, with the team already supplying 30 tonnes per annum to high-end restaurants throughout the North Island through its distributor Leigh Fish. Over periods during lockdown where New Zealand’s restaurants had to close their doors, Leigh Fish also supplied some kingfish to Canada and the USA, giving them a new avenue of demand.

However, NIWA has always wanted to look after New Zealand’s economic interests first, so the decision to prioritise domestic has been made and the fish are snapped up here before being offered offshore. Local Northland restaurants such as the Duke of Marlborough, in its iconic Russell location, and Aqua Restaurant in Whangarei’s new Hundertwasser Art Centre, are two of the many restaurants offering the premium kingfish.

The low stress conditions, excellent handling and top-notch flesh quality have impressed even the most discerning of palates. Chef Makoto Tokuyama of Cocoro in Auckland has given his approval, saying “The kingfish is excellently balanced. The texture is firm and crisp with really clean flavour”. Such praise does not come lightly.

The very close and productive relationship between NIWA and Leigh Fish allows clear and immediate feedback from the early market adopters. Reception in the marketplace has been overwhelmingly positive, and any feedback can be quickly applied to ensure continual product development to meet market requirements.

Animal welfare is paramount. The production is constantly monitored and adjusted to maintain the optimal environmental conditions for the fish. Sustainable feed is sourced from certified suppliers and specific kingfish diets have been developed. Observations have shown these growing conditions consistently produce fish with ‘healthy’ fat content and good flavour.

NIWA are now moving onto the next phase. In partnership with the Northland Regional Council (NRC), they will work with construction firm CB Civil to build New Zealand’s only commercial scale operating farm using recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). Completion is expected in 2022 and production of premium farmed Ruakākā kingfish will rapidly increase up to 600 tonnes per annum.

The Northland region stands to benefit hugely from the farm, with new jobs being created directly and indirectly, and promises of further economic development on the cards, as the NRMC site has the capacity to increase production to as much as 3000 tonnes per year.

This is just the beginning for a sustainable and lucrative type of fish farming industry for Northland and the rest of New Zealand.

Learn more about Ruakākā Kingfish and land-based aquaculture by scanning the QR code and visiting www.ruakakakingfish.nz