National Environmental Standards for Marine Aquaculture

The standards replace regional council rules for existing marine farms. In some instances they allow regional council rules to remain in force. 

Official title

Resource Management (National Environmental Standards for Marine Aquaculture) Regulations 2020

Under the

Resource Management Act

Lead agency

Ministry for Primary Industries with support from MfE and the Department of Conservation

Last updated:

Full text

Resource Management (National Environmental Standards for Marine Aquaculture) Regulations 2020 [New Zealand Legislation website]

In force from

1 December 2020

What they do

The National Environmental Standards for Marine Aquaculture (NES-MA) set national rules that replace regional council rules for existing marine farms except where the NES-MA allow regional council rules to remain in force.

The NES-MA will ensure existing marine farms meet best environmental practice while providing a more certain and efficient process for:

  • replacement consents for existing marine farms
  • realignment of farms
  • applications to change farmed species.

Read more about the NES-MA on the Ministry for Primary Industries website

Ministers media release: New standards for existing marine farms provide consistency [Beehive website]

Year three review

For the: 

  • Report on the year three review of the National Environmental Standards for Marine Aquaculture 
  • Terms of reference for the year three review of the National Environmental Standards for Marine Aquaculture. 

See the National environmental standards for marine aquaculture [MPI website].