Media release
7 March 2017

An innovative marine farm net cleaning system developed by Andy Fairhall from Marlborough business Boss Net Cleaning Services has been installed by the large Canadian-based salmon farming company Cooke Aquaculture – which also farms salmon in Scotland, Chile and the US – with repeat orders confirmed for 2017.

Andy, a previous employee of New Zealand King Salmon and now entrepreneur, says he was excited to have his Boss Aqua system taken up by Cooke Aquaculture. He says, “Following years of hard work including many thousands of hours of research, development and testing, it is satisfying to be able to offer the international aquaculture community the world’s first fully-automated net cleaning robot. We are proud our equipment is 100% produced in New Zealand with significant suppliers in Marlborough.”

Other markets that Andy has in his sights include NZ, Australia, Europe, South America, Scandinavia and Asia.

“We’re proud to have fostered Andy’s talent during his time with New Zealand King Salmon, as well as assisting during the product testing and feedback phase. And we’re thrilled that his innovation is being recognised internationally,” says New Zealand King Salmon CEO, Grant Rosewarne.

With our legendary ‘number 8 wire’ mentality, New Zealand has long been heralded as an innovative hub. “Being a nation surrounded by ocean and with aquaculture tagged as an increasingly critical part of feeding the world in years to come, innovation in this area is critical and makes excellent business sense,” says Grant.

With organisations right on our doorstep undertaking cutting edge research and development, such as the Marlborough Research Centre (MRC), there are excellent opportunities for Marlborough businesses to focus on developing innovation in their industries to enable the region, its’ businesses and, most importantly, its’ people to grow and thrive.

“Over the past 33 years MRC has built a reputation for connecting business to business, and stimulating innovation and improved value across the primary sector,” says Gerald Hope, chief executive at MRC. Through the Marlborough Food and Beverage Innovation cluster run by MRC, he says that industry has become closely aligned to market led innovation.

MRC’s function is to grow the regional economy in the top of the south across Nelson, Marlborough and beyond.

Contact:
Andrew Fairhall          +64 29 280 6690         andy.fairhall@xtra.co.nz
Grant Rosewarne       +64 27 246 0980         grant.rosewarne@kingsalmon.co.nz
Gerald Hope                +64 27 433 1059         gerald@mrc.org.nz