More than 3000 hectares of new marine farming space has been opened up in the South Island, but the likelihood of further farms being approved in the near future remains slim.

The Ministry of Fisheries has rubber-stamped the approval for 10 new marine farms in Marlborough and Canterbury.

Most of the 3143 hectares will be eaten by a 2695 hectare farm, 14km offshore in Pegasus Bay north of Banks Peninsula in Canterbury, creating the second largest farm in the country.

A tiny Maori trust board in the eastern Bay of Plenty has won victory over fisheries giant Sanford, which opposed its plans to establish a massive offshore mussel farm.

The High Court in Wellington has cleared the way for New Zealand’s biggest mussel farm – covering 3800ha off the Opotiki coast in the eastern Bay of Plenty.

Fisheries giant Sanford appealed against a Ministry of Fisheries decision to grant Eastern Sea Farms permission to create one of the world’s biggest seafood farms on the grounds it would adversely affect commercial fishing.

A Wellington High Court judge has ordered the Ministry of Fisheries to hand over documents relating to a raid last year but it will be allowed to black out sensitive parts.

On November 5 ministry officers searched United Fisheries premises and seized documents and computers as well as "cloning" files from the company’s central server, as part of a criminal investigation into suspected illegal fishing by the company.

A Dunedin fisherman facing a $250,000 fine for refusing to follow a “dangerous” observer programme is getting little help from Maritime New Zealand.

Last week Steve Little emerged from a hearing with the Ministry of Fisheries uncertain as to what would happen next, after he refused to allow an observer onboard his small vessel due to what he called “serious” safety concerns.

Hoping for some help, Mr Little looked to Maritime New Zealand to back him up on the safety issue.

The Ministry of Fisheries has defended the safety of its new observer programme for in-shore fishing boats, saying it wouldn’t put any observers in harm’s way.

Dunedin fisherman Steve Little has raised concerns over the programme, and says he faces a $250,000 fine if he refuses to allow an observer aboard his boat during fishing trips.