Marine Farms

A number of areas of water around Tasman and Golden Bay are set aside for marine farming. This page outlines:

General Guidelines 

Boaties are discouraged from navigating through these farmed areas as hazards include floating and sub-surface lines and structures. It is recommended that you  plot a course around the outside of the bounded area.

Report Damage or Faults

If you damage farm equipment or wish to report a faulty or absent navigation aid, please contact the Harbourmaster.

Information from the Marine Farming Association

Boundary Marks 

The boundaries of areas in use for marine farming are marked by special and/or cardinal marks according to the conditions of the farm’s permits. These marks are lit at night, and most also have radar reflectors. In general, sites conform with the requirements of Maritime New Zealand.

Guidelines for Aquaculture Management Areas and Marine Farms (.pdf 192 kB) from Maritime NZ.

Inshore Farm - Wainui Bay

Wainui Bay is an inshore marine farm site. It is marked with a single special mark at each of the two seaward corners.
These lights:

  • flash yellow in groups of 5 every 20 seconds.
  • are mounted at least 1m above the water with a nominal range of one nautical mile.
  • must reflect radar and have yellow retro-reflective tape visible by torchlight at 50m.

Offshore Farms

All other installations are offshore sites.  In general, the cardinal marks at the corners of each area are fitted with white quick or very quick flashing lights. The lights have a nominal range of four nautical miles, and should be at least 3m above the water. The marks are also fitted with a radar reflector at least 2.5m above the water. These cardinal marks are colour coded and fitted with topmarks in accordance with the IALA A system of beaconage, as the diagram below illustrates.

Marine Farm Cardinal Marks

Image used by permission of Maritime NZ.

Passing Marks

Cardinal marks should be passed on the named side (ie pass in the northern quadrant of a north cardinal mark).

The intermediate special marks at offshore farms are coloured yellow, with a yellow flashing light with a nominal range of two nautical miles at a height of 2m above the water. These yellow lights generally flash in groups of 5 every 20 seconds, but in some cases flash once every four seconds.

Special marks do not indicate a safe channel through marine farm areas.

  • If you do not know the exact location of hazards inside blocks delineated by cardinal marks, plot a course around the outside of the bounded area.
  • If it is dark, or there is poor visibility or rough weather,  plot a course around the outside of the bounded area.

Photographs of Marks

View photographs of:

Marine Farm Mark Maps