After 16 years as president of the Marine Farming Association, industry pioneer Rob Pooley has stepped down.

Replacing Nelson-based Mr Pooley is 38 year-old Jonathan Large, a second-generation mussel grower from Marlborough.

Pooley has also been made a life member of the top of the south Marine Farming Association and will remain on the MFA executive.

Pooley started as a marine farmer 40 years ago, encouraged by government and local authorities to get the industry started in the Marlborough Sounds.

"We'd fly up to Wellington on noisy old Bristol Freighters to talk to Government and fly back late at night before driving back to the Sounds," he told the MFA annual general meeting in Blenheim last week.

As owner of Marine Farming Solutions Pooley has enjoyed a lifelong association with the seafood industry - particularly with the lobster and New Zealand Greenshell Mussel industries.

While based in Nelson these days Pooley lived at Elaine Bay in Pelorus Sound for many years where he based his company.

He first served on the Marine Farming Association executive in the mid-1980s and returned as President in 2000.

Reflecting on his time at the top, Pooley was quick to praise the 'many palms on my back' that have supported him and held a positive outlook for the future.

"Our industry has come a long way and still has a huge potential. It's time for some next generation leadership to ensure marine farming can continue to deliver for the top of the south and for New Zealand," he said.

Aquaculture NZ chairman Bruce Hearn said Pooley 'had made a major contribution to this industry', while MFA executive member Bob Nicolle praised him for his passionate advocacy for marine farming.

Large said Mr Pooley had given him his start in the industry and left big shoes to fill and was pleased the retiring president will continue to provide support as a member of the MFA executive.

Mr Pooley has also been recently recognised by the New Zealand oyster industry and was a finalist in the inaugural Seafood Stars awards which were announced this week..

He was also full of praise for the incoming president who was elected unopposed by his peers.

"To be fair there were no surprises and he is a very fitting replacement," Pooley said.

Going forward, Poley said the key issues for the industry were security of tenure for marine farmers as well as maintaining good relationships with local councils.

"As pioneers we were invited to set up an industry and we were encouraged by government both local and regional," he said.

"We did that and we did a pretty good job and we now find ourselves under siege a little."

This article was originally sourced from Stuff and was written by Time O'Connell.