Mussel spat catchers Local ecological knowledge and marine spatial planning: A South Island (NZ) case study

Abstract

New Zealand mussel aquaculture heavily relies on wild-caught juveniles (also known as spat) to stock their sea-based farms. The literature and data on mussel spat catching are scarce and there appears to be no literature, or any research done on Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) of mussel spat catching. The aim of this research is to apply LEK of spat catchers to identify and explore the extent to which spat catchers LEK contributes to current New Zealand marine spatial planning The paper is based on interviews with spat catchers, scientists and planners involved with spat catching in Pelorus Sound and Wainui Bay, each of which lies in a different marine planning jurisdiction. An LEK informed conceptual model based on the findings will be presented, illustrating the pathways, or lack thereof, through which the knowledge of the spa catchers influences the planning process.