68 | Upscaling the key for mussel farmers T Virginia Wright John Young puts his skills as a biologist to work, closely observing the molluscs and their behaviour over the seasons. PRODUCTION Clearwater Mussels T to page 70 With its bases in Kenepuru Sound, Havelock and Tarakohe, Clearwater Mussel Farm has steadily grown over many years to get where it is today. Their biggest harvest to date has been 18,000 tonnes of mussels from a combined 800 hectares of water space spread throughout the Sounds, Golden Bay and Tasman Bays. Guiding the growth of that harvest through the years has been John Young and his wife Lynn Godsiff. Having worked as a scientist for what was then the Ministry of Fisheries for 10 years, John left to be the master of his own destiny in 1984. He took his scientific approach to farming with him, as well as a sense of what might be possible in a mussel farming industry. At that stage John and Lynn each had their own mussel farms in the Sounds, as did many others, often at the bottom of their sheep farm, in what was then a cottage industry. Things took off for them in 2007 when they went into a 50/50 partnership with Talleys. By then John and Lynn had bought or leased several more farms and John was convinced that the new partnership would deliver the scale they needed to make their mussel farming a securely going concern. Having been contractors for hire harvesting for others for a few years they decided once again to take their fates into their own hands. • RUGGED • DURABLE • KIWI MADE GEAR Tel: 03 539 0022 Email: info@protectiveclothing.nz Factory Shop: 10A Forests Road, Nelson Our wet weather clothing and gear is made to the highest New Zealand Safety standards. New Zealand sees its fair share of extreme weather, so we test and manufacture waterproof clothing and workwear that is made to withstand the toughest weather conditions. Wal 027 209 6999 or Norbert 027 209 6001 wal@soundsengineering.co.nz Increase energy efciency, component life and on-board safety with FPS. Your choice for the design, development and installation of ground-breaking marine industry solutions. • Purpose-built stainless steel components developed to withstand the harsh marine environment • Fuel conscious systems that work hydraulics ‘on demand’ only • Isolating bulkhead penetrations to minimise hydraulic noise • Innovative safety solutions for on-deck systems • A full range of purpose-built, customised hydraulic gear and components. Proud to work with Clearwater Mussels. Custom built, marine-grade hydraulic gear and components, including revolutionary on-board safety systems.
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