Welcome to the April edition of Aqua News. It’s hard to believe we’re already a quarter way through the year. We have seen a strong start to the year and it’s great to finally see some progress across the sector.

This month sees the start of the new financial year and the approach of phase two of the New Zealand Aquaculture strategy.

The full board of directors sat last week to finalise our business plan for 2011/12 and our strategy for the next three years. The strategy will soon be coming out for consultation and I encourage all shareholders to get involved in the process. This document will determine the short-term direction of AQNZ and strongly influence our billion-dollar aspirations so it’s vital it works for the sector. Make sure you have your say.

I sign-off this month by farewelling one of our own, AQNZ Marketing Manager Rachel McKinnel. It has been a pleasure to work with Rachel over the past five years and on behalf of the board of directors I wish her all the best in her future endeavours.

Peter Vitasovich
Chairman, Aquaculture New Zealand