The Government has announced funding of $2 million to clean up derelict oyster farms in the Bay of Islands and recycle the waste.
Environment Minister Nick Smith said in Opua the work will create 12 jobs.
He said the grant will fund the clean-up of oyster farms abandoned because of pollution some years ago.
Dr Smith says oyster shells will be ground up for use by Golden Bay Cement and 300 tonnes of waste timber from the old farms will be composted for use by councils.
Once the farms are cleaned up the project will continue as a shell recycling venture with the aim of making aquaculture in Northland a zero waste industry, he says.
