Shellfish brings real mussel (muscle!) to Coromandel economy

Aquaculture is the backbone of Coromandel according to long time mussel farmer and the chair of the Coromandel Marine Farmers Association, Gilbert James. 

And the statistics published by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER), in February 2017, in a report into the economic contribution of marine farming in the Thames-Coromandel district back him up. 

The report showed that Coromandel marine farming creates 350 full-time jobs in the district, along with 450 direct jobs in other regions. The exports bring in $73M a year and the New Zealand retail sales generate more than $30 million a year. It also makes up 7.2 per cent of the district’s GDP at $69.6 million. 

The 76-year-old was born and bred at Coromandel, as was his father and grandfather. 

“My great grandfather came to Coromandel in the gold mining days to make his fortune and go back to London, but it didn’t quite work out that way.” 

After gold mining came to end, his grandfather invested in 200 acres of land in the 1930s, the land had been a former gold mine at Preeces Point with direct harbour access and that was where Gilbert grew up. His family owner the local hardware store, originally opened by his great grandfather, which is still called James and Turner even though Gilbert’s family is no longer involved. 

Gilbert left the Coromandel in January 1959, aged 17, to pursue several short term jobs in Auckland before moving to the Hawkes Bay where he was a sheep shearer for 14 years. When shearing during the 60s he started to hear people talk about Coromandel mussels being no more. He eventually moved back to Auckland and took a job as the production manager for Watties at a maize starch factory. 

“The gulf dredge industry and the mussel factory was still working then. There was no reason to believe it would stop when I left. But in the early ‘60s it completely disappeared. There were no mussels. When I travelled around the place, Waikato and Auckland people used to say, ‘oh I remember the Coromandel mussels,’ and I realised there was a market waiting to be filled.” 

Gilbert was looking for an opportunity. He knew there was a market and he knew where to go to get into it – home . He asked his father if he could lease some of the 200-hectare family property, the part with the harbour access. 

“I’d spent 14 years in wool sheds shearing sheep. I also had a good job at the maize factory, but I could see an opportunity to have a lash at something myself.” 

Gilbert applied for a mussel farm license in 1979 and it was granted in 1984. Gilbert believed mussel farming was going to be ‘the’ thing. As was oyster farming. 

“In the 60s the government had set up an experimental oyster farm on the flats to see if it could be done in New Zealand. They had an Australian scientist come in to oversee it for a start and it seemed to be a success. 

“We thought mussels would follow along, and they have, but not without effort.” 

There were people that said it wouldn’t happen, but Gilbert believed with a good crew on board he could work hard and make something of it, and he proved those people wrong. 

Gilbert named his business Gold Ridge Marine Farms in recognition of the history of his family’s land. 

He has also worked to advance the wider industry, having called the first Coromandel Mussel Farming Association meeting in 1981 and served as its chairman ever since. He has also served on the original Mussel Industry Advisory Council and later as a director on the Aquaculture New Zealand board since it was established in 2006. 

“I called a meeting of applicants [for mussel farming] in 1981 and we had a meeting in the oyster farm building that had just been built and we set up a society of mussel farmers and we called ourselves the Coromandel Mussel Farming Association.” 

They worked together, Gilbert became chair, and he’s held the position ever since. 

Today they are known as the Coromandel Marine Farmers Association which represents the mussel and oyster farmers (except those in Mahurangi Harbour near Warkworth) in the Hauraki Gulf/Tikapa Moana. The farms are concentrated around the western Coromandel Peninsula and south-east of Waiheke Island. 

Their products are available at nearly all supermarkets in the upper North Island. 

“[Aquaculture] has given Coromandel an identity, really, otherwise we would probably be a tourist cappuccino town.” 

Gilbert said at the time he got involved the forestry industry was closing down and employees were being paid off. The oyster farm had about 65 staff members, but the town was ready for another venture and it turned out to be mussels. 

“It really is huge for the town and it gives us an identity. Alongside mussels and oysters, snapper have been growing bigger and faster and have created a secondary industry in operating fishing charter boats. There’s about 15 boats making a living. 

“Further to the charter industry a certain percentage of fishermen stay the night in the motels and they eat out. The charter boats have also taken over from the commercial fishing which was a main part of the town. It’s gone from being commercial to individuals now going and catching fish.” 

Today Gilbert and his business partner David Blyth, a former farmer and fencer and now Gold Ridge operations manager, keep the farming going and say they will until either the mussels – or they – disappear .

“Aquaculture is the back bone of the town. Without it we wouldn’t be the same.”

While you're here, don't forget to search through the Waikato Story's Toolkit to see if there is anything you can use for your business! You’ll find plenty of photos of the stunning Coromandel, as well as an infographic of statistics about aquaculture in the region all free for you to use.