A new Bill before Parliament will boost the Bay of Plenty's ‘stagnant' aquaculture industry if passed into law, says North Island Mussel Processing Limited shareholder Peter Vitasovich.

This Greerton based mussel processing factory is at the centre of Tauranga's aquaculture industry.

The government is showing its support for aquaculture by cutting some resource consent red tape. Pictured here is Prime Minister John Key at North Island Mussel Processing Limited in Greerton during his Tauranga visit in June.

Parliament first received the Aquaculture Legislation Amendment Bill on Tuesday.

Peter, who also owns Coromandel based company Greenshell New Zealand, says the Bay of Plenty's aquaculture industry was ‘stagnant' and producing limited job creation and economic benefits.

'We see this as very positive. The changes that are proposed enable aquaculture to grow in the future.”

The current restrictions around resource consent and consultation made the expansion of mussel farming in the region frustrating, says Peter.

'It's been very hard, very difficult and frustrating. It's frustrating for everyone: the council, government and the applicant, all trying to work through this process.

'It's not a situation where you can go out and do things straight away. It just gives certainty and clarity of the process.”

The government considers the Bill a key component to achieving its goal of earning New Zealand $1 billion from aquaculture by 2025.

Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Phil Heatley says the proposed law will enable aquaculture to fulfil its economic potential, while ensuring that development is environmentally sustainable and balanced with other uses of coastal space.