Aquaculture is seen by many as a new industry and it's often touted as an environmentally sound way to secure future seafood resources.

But it's not new. The first manual on aquaculture was written by one Fan Li in China about 2700 years ago and even he was a latecomer – with the Egyptians farming fish 2000 years before him.

Nor is it always environmentally sound or sustainable; in the past, many aquaculture farms have been ecological disasters. Yet properly managed, it is a way to secure future fish supplies, provide chemicals for new cancer fighting drugs, new health and beauty products, sunscreens and even bio-fuels.

There are many ways of conducting aquaculture and many species that can be cultivated and new research is adding more all the time.

During the next few editions of Coast & Country we will look at some of the species which could be cultivated here – from eels to sponges and evaluating the potential for a more diverse aquaculture industry in New Zealand.