Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I've been a member of this forum for some time and have learnt a lot about setting up my own system (not done it yet though). I've not seen nor heard about anybody setting up a system in New Zealand. If there are people in NZ who are interested I'd love to hear from you.

Clive

Welcome CGD,
There were a few but I think the cross tasman jokes were a bit too much
I guess you will be growing Trout

hi Creative1,
Yes I thought there was a person from the Hawkes Bay area but I wrote to them but as yet no reply.

As for growing trout in my system its a no no. There is so much control over what we are allowed to keep in fact it seems that goldfish are all we are allowed. Here is a response I received to an enquiry I made as the what we are allowed to keep in an aquaponics system in NZ

There are restrictions under the freshwater fisheries act which will
apply to you these include: -

- You are not allowed to keep "Sport Fish" (see list below)
- You not allowed to keep noxious fish (see list below)
- You are not allowed ot keep Mosquito fish/Gambusia
- There is a prohibition on transfer of fish between islands
(except ornamental tropical fish or goldfish).

'Sport Fish'
Brown trout (Salmo trutta):
Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, formally known as Salmo gairdneri):
American brook trout or char (Salvelinus fontinalis):
Lake trout or char (Salvelinus namaycush):
Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar):
Quinnat or chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha):
Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)
Perch (Perca fluviatilis):
Tench (Tinca tinca)-
Rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus) found or taken in the Auckland
Acclimatisation District


'Noxious Fish'
Clarias batrachus Walking catfish
Cyprinus carpio Live European carp, live Japanese koi (including their
live or viable eggs, milt, and ova)
Esox lucius Pike
Pygocentrus spp. Piranha
Rooseveltiella spp. Piranha
Serrasalmus spp. Piranha
Scardinius erythrophthalmus Rudd (other than within the Auckland
Acclimatisation District)
Tilapia spp. Tilapia
Sarotherodon spp. Tilapia



I just hope goldfish do what is needed.


Clive

bugger

It may depend on the definition of aquaponics.
It seems the rules regarding hobby aquaria are a lot less stringent, as
I see people on aquarium sites raising piranha and other fish on the
banned list.
It seems New zealand may be party to the same international agreement
that Australia is implementing and as such "fish Farm" rules only apply
to fish raised for sale. and aquaria can be up to I think 10000 litres in
size.
It may pay to ask some questions on aquarium sites as well as of the "authorities" because the regulations may not be that restrictive
if your system can be classed as an aquarium.
The other avenue to try is looking for freshwater fry for sale around New Zealand. the breeders there are probably more conversant with the regulations than most.

Sadly Johnh... New Zealand has virtually no native freshwater fish that grow to any real size...

And as well meaning as they may be... the regulations in NZ have effectively killed the establishment of ANY aquaculture for a decade...

Bugger

Doesn't NZ have the largest freshwater crayfish in the world? Any chance with those?

Hi there,

I'm another kiwi who's just learning about Aquaponics.

I've found a list of fish species that can legally be farmed in NZ: http://fs.fish.govt.nz/Page.aspx?pk=24&tk=450

My interest is self sufficiency, so the ability to raise the feed (duckweed) and the fish within the system are important to me.

As far as I can tell, this requires a fish which is omnivorous (removes trout) and will breed naturally in captivity (removes grass carp). Tilapia and Catfish are both banned here. Are there any species on this list that fit the bill??

Some of the "sport" species in that other list are on the "allowed" list here, so not sure what that's about. Maybe I need to look into the aquarium exemptions.

Many thanks,
Craig

Welcome

The largest crayfish , that would be in Tasmania ,, also a small island owned by Australia:) <<<< RUPERT???

You just have to find out the maximum size of an aquirium before it is classified as a farm.
I thought you could have a 5000 litre aquirium,

http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/feat ... grow-veges

this may be of some help cee cee

Don't think so... it was an existing hydroponic operation that converted... at a cost of $400,000... half a dozen tables to an "aquaponics" style system...

While only a "trial"... at around $500/plant ... I wouldn't be basing my system(s) around the model...

rupe most of the discussion on this thread is about the lack of fish species available in new zealand i posted the link so cee gee follow up on the fish used not the overpriced system