The Dawson’s have been successful fishermen since they began in 2010 with an annual Eel catch of 25 Tonne and 13 Tonne of Flounder from Waihora (Lake Ellesmere). The Dawson’s have been leasing this quota from Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu since 2010.
Since early 2015 Riki Dawson has been building a fish processing plant on the family land in North Canterbury and the plant was completed in September 2016. The plant is set up to land and process all of
The plant is set up to land and process all of the Dawson’s annual catch rather than the Dawson's landing their catch to other fish companies. This development has come with both challenges and triumphs. Landing catch to their own fish processing plant will ensure the Dawson’s the opportunity to capture much more of the value chain in the Eel industry through developing their own connections direct to the market, though this is not without hard work, as the export food market can be challenging to navigate. The Research and Development team at Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu have been working with the Dawson’s for the past year, supporting the development of the business and assisting in the identification of new and lucrative markets for the Dawson’s.
This development has come with both challenges and triumphs. Landing catch to their own fish processing plant will ensure the Dawson’s the opportunity to capture much more of the value chain in the Eel industry through developing their own connections direct to the market, though this is not without hard work, as the export food market can be challenging to navigate. The Research and Development team at Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu have been working with the Dawson’s for the past year, supporting the development of the business and assisting in the identification of new and lucrative markets for the Dawson’s.
The Research and Development team at Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu have been working with the Dawson’s, supporting the development of the business and assisting in the identification of new and lucrative markets for the Dawson’s.
