Bay of Plenty Business News June/July 2017

18 BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS June/July 2017
Tauranga to host international
marine biotechnology convention
The region’s growing reputation as
the centre for blue innovation has
seen Tauranga successfully secure
the international Blue2Green Marine
Biotechnology Convention, which is being
held in New Zealand for the first time.
The global marine biotechnology
market is predicted
to reach $US5.9
billion by 2022. The convention
is seen as an opportunity
to strengthen research and
development ties among the
represented Pacific Rim and
Australasian countries, says
Chris Battershill, the chair
of Coastal Science at the
University of Waikato.
Battershill, who is also
director of the Coastal Marine
Field Station in Tauranga, will
chair the Blue2Green Marine
Biotechnology Convention,
which he says is designed to
splice together research interests,
and explore new opportunities
with a central theme of
environmental sustainability
linked to development of new
high value marine industries.
The August 8-10 event
will be a joint meeting
between the newly formed
Australia New Zealand
Marine Biotechnology
Society (a member of
the International Marine
Biotechnology Association),
the International Conference
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on Coastal Biotechnology
(convened in China), and the
New Zealand Aquaculture
Science Association. The
Korean Society for Marine
Biotechnology will also be
sending a special delegation.
“This convention will
demonstrate how we can harness
existing international
excellence across marine biotechnological
sciences to fast
track sustainable wealth creation
through novel application
of marine biotechnologies,”
says Battershill.
“Additionally [we’ll be]
examining how these very
technologies can be used to
aid, repair or to strengthen
environments under threat.”
“The convention will allow
us to present the latest science
and industry updates and
highlight the value and impact
of the marine biotechnology
sector,” he says.
“Many countries, in particular
New Zealand and
Australia, remain in their
infancy in realising the potential
of novel marine bioproducts
and biotechnologies.
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Professor Chris Battershill: potential in marine bioproducts.
Aquaculture targets remain
limited and there are increasing
issues in-sea and on-land
in terms of meeting sustainable
production targets for any
primary product.”
By contrast, he says, the
science that underpins marine
biotechnology has advanced
enormously in the last decade,
with enhanced knowledge of
marine molecular processes,
biosynthesis, semi-synthesis,
symbiosis, marine microbial
science, chemical ecology,
physiology, aquaculture husbandry,
aqua and agri feeds,
biomedical discovery, reproductive
biology and genetics.”
Battershill says the convention
will provide a rare
opportunity for groups carrying
out this research to meet
and share knowledge.
“We know that through a
rich legacy of biodiscovery
in the sea, the bioinformatics
are available for translational
application into other sectors
such as agriculture, aquaculture
and veterinary sectors.
“There is also immediate
opportunity in applying
biotechnological research to
remediate damaged or threatened
ecosystems. The convention
will bring together
research scientist groups that
would not ordinarily see one
another, as well as providing
a platform for a truly international
meeting of minds and
exploration of opportunity.”
The convention will also
include two additional innovation
field trip days for delegates
to visit industries across
the region. These are designed
to connect the partnership and
opportunity dots and highlight
the value and impact that the
marine biotechnology sector
can bring to enhancing “blue”
innovation in the region.
The convention will be
hosted at the Tauranga Yacht
Club.
“Where better to host a
marine biotech convention
with an international line up
of speakers and delegates,
than right on the harbour’s
edge at the Tauranga Yacht
Club. It’s the perfect spot to
showcase and celebrate our
precious harbour and marine
environment.”
The theme of this year’s
convention is Toitu te
Moana, Toitu te Tangata -
Sustainability of the sea, sustainability
of the people.
The convention is convened
by scientists from the
University of Waikato, Priority
One, Flinders University,
James Cook University,
Cawthron Institute, Toi
Ohomai, The International
Marine Biotechnology
Association and the Yantai
Institute of Coastal Zone
Research.
For more information visit
www.blue2green.co.nz
Regional aquaculture
workshop on biosecurity
More than 30 aquaculture
industry representatives
and stakeholders
attended a biosecurity
workshop in Tauranga this
month, including the Ministry
for Primary Industries.
Hosted by the Bay of
Connection’s Regional
Aquaculture Organisation,
and in partnership with
Waikato University and Bay
of Plenty Regional Council,
the workshop provided a
forum for discussion and
education on important biosecurity
matters affecting
this region, and neighbouring
regions including, the
Fanworm pest, its biology
and risks to aquaculture, surveillance
and avoiding infestations.
The meeting also provided
an opportunity to feed
directly into the review of the
Regional Pest Management
Plan.
The current pest plan
was developed under the
Biosecurity Act and is the key
policy document that directs
how unwanted organisms
such as plants and animals
are managed in the Bay of
Plenty. The discussion document
available online has
been developed to get public
feedback on how pests are
managed in our region.
Some key proposals in
the discussion document
include:
• Inclusion of new pests.
• Reclassification of some
existing pests.
• Greater focus on preventing
new pests coming into
the region.
• Reduced intervention on
the management of some
well-established pests.
• Greater obligation on
landowners to manage
some pests on their land.
• New pest management
approaches such as the use
of pathway planning and
good neighbour rules.
As noted at the workshop,
industry feedback and
comments are welcome and
important, so anyone wishing
to contribute can check
out the Bay of Connections
website or email email info@
bayofconnections.com.