Current Snaps King Salmon Farm Moorings

At 5 minutes past 8 this morning, the combination of the year’s highest spring tides and already fast currents resulted in excessive pressure on New Zealand King Salmon’s marine farm situated at Te Pangu in Tory Channel.

The huge pressure snapped two moorings and within ten minutes the farm was broadside to the current which only compounded the strain on the remaining extensive configuration of moorings. It now appears that many of these then consecutively snapped allowing the farm to drift from its inshore position some 200 metres or so towards the centre of the channel.

The farm is manned 24/7 by an experienced staff of four plus a dayshift manager. In addition the farm was undertaking a harvest utilising a crew of 11.

All personnel were safe during this occurrence and have remained so throughout the recovery process – indeed the harvest was able to continue during the drift.

King Salmon management consulted with Port authorities and it was considered prudent to close the channel for shipping until the adrift farm facility was secured, given the possibility at that point of immediate further movement and the uncertainty of what lines were unsecured in the water.

The company organised Tug assistance to secure and return the farm to its moorings. By 9.45am the first tug was alongside and joined by 2 others by 12.00 midday. The Channel has now reopened. The company expects the farm to be site secured by around 6pm and Tugs.

The marine farm that came adrift comprises some 26 cages in total 16 of which were occupied by our salmon at various stages of growth. The farm in total is currently holding about 1.1 million salmon, with the larger cages growing fish around 3.5 kilos and some of these were being harvested. Medium size cages held some 750,000 young salmon – around 200 grammes each – and it is possible that these may have sustained some damage resulting in mortalities.

“This is the second occasion on which natures forces have moved the farm and following the first incident in 2001 the company extensively reviewed its mooring systems in conjunction with the best external advice available”, said Chief Executive, Paul Steere. “We added significantly to the moorings, their type configuration and weight to avoid a re-occurrence. Plainly that wasn’t enough and we will need to re-examine the future mooring strategies”.

“We are well pleased with the reaction of our staff during this incident, their professional and speedy actions reflect their commitment and expertise”.  “We are also grateful to the Marlborough authorities for their guidance and support plus the speedy response and assistance of the Tug owners.”

“We would also sincerely apologise for any inconvenience to the public and commercial users of Tory Channel while it was closed this morning”

“While some significant costs are likely as a result of the incident, it is otherwise business as usual for the Company and all product demand will be fulfilled as usual” concluded Mr Steere

Contact:
Paul Steere (Chief Executive) 03 548574 / 029 7783373
or Stewart Hawthorn (General Manager – Aquaculture) 03 520 3022 / 029 223 3676