What's holding back Southland's potential billion-dollar industry?

Aquaculture has been earmarked as a potential $3 billion industry for New Zealand with Southland in line to cover a third of that.

Aquaculture is said to be the world’s fastest-growing primary industry and is considered a sustainable solution to feeding the world.

Aquaculture could be a billion-dollar industry for Southland, but regional leaders say the barrier to making that happen is consent for water space.

As part of the 2016 Southland Regional Development Strategy aquaculture was identified as a key opportunity for the region.

The economic opportunities that aquaculture present was again highlighted at the Murihiku Regeneration Energy and Innovation Wānanga in Invercargill on Wednesday.