Locals in the small Marlborough Sounds settlement of Okiwi Bay headed down to the Bay's pristine beach to protest a proposed fish farm that they say will have a massive impact on the region.
Dutch company Skretting plans to build a fish food farm, and while the proposal is still in the submission phase, locals feel it may be a done deal.
The protest sent a message to major aquaculture company Skretting -- you're not welcome in Okiwi Bay.
The Dutch company has plans to build a fish farm in the bay to test fish foods. Water from the tanks would then be pumped into the sea, and residents are concerned with the effect it will have on water quality.
Residents say the majority of people in the small settlement are against it.
"We don't want it here," says Tim Greenhough of the Residents Association. "This is our piece of paradise. We want to keep it as it is."
On their website, Skretting states: "They have dynamic quality assurances and controls...to minimise exposure to risks."
Protest organiser Paula Holder says they're not convinced it won't have an impact on the environment.
"Our kids won't be swimming out there, and that's the biggest thing," she says.
"They want to pump out 70,000 litres of water each day -- water that's contaminated with phosphorus, nitrates and fish solids -- into where the kids swim."
Residents are also concerned with the noise the facility will make once it's running.
"You can go outside at Okiwi Bay and you don't hear a thing. The stars are just so bright. When these pumps are going it's going to be continual, a hum, noise pollution that we don't have now," says Ms Holder.
The protest kicked off at midday along the Okiwi Bay shoreline.
"The big water tank has got 'Hands Off Okiwi Bay' on it," says Ms Holder. "People have 'Hands Off Okiwi Bay' on their houses, and we're going to let the Malborough District Council know that we do not want Skretting in Okiwi Bay."
The Marlborough District Council has already received 200 submissions from locals, many of whom say they haven't been properly informed.
The issue has similarities with the King Salmon farms that were proposed for the Marlborough Sounds in 2012. The company was allowed to go ahead with four out of nine farms after fierce opposition from locals.
The Marlborough District Council says there will be a hearing on the proposed farm, but it's not certain when. For now, residents just want them to hear their concerns.
Skretting employs 2900 people in 18 countries around the world, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, Japan and USA.
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