Dargaville News: Energy plans jeopardise snapper population

Rose Stirling of the Dargaville News reports that Crest Energy’s plan to build a tidal power station in the Kaipara Harbour puts at risk much of New Zealand’s snapper population, according to Maori Party MP Hone Harawira.

Most of New Zealand’s snapper nursery comes from the Harbour, meaning that should plans go ahead, the fish could disappear from menus.

An excerpt: (read in full here)

“The Environment Court made a positive recommendation to Conservation Minister Tim Groser on a proposal from Crest Energy to generate electricity from the harbour earlier this year.

“This could see the country’s largest harbour providing power to 250,000 homes within 10 years.

“At a public meeting, held at Naumai Marae near the Northland settlement of
Ruawai earlier last year, Crest marine consultants Venus and Gowing said they, including NIWA and Conservation Department staff, had assured the Environment Court the power generation project would not harm orca and other whales or disturb the spawning beds that provide 98 percent of New Zealand snapper.”