Aquaculture is the big winner in the latest Provincial Growth Fund spend

Eastern Bay of Plenty will receive more than 25 million dollars - most of it for three initiatives to grow the aquaculture industry.

Whakatohea Mussels Opotiki's been promised the lion's share.

Up to 19-million-850-thousand dollars will go towards developing a deep water mussel farm and processing factory - which could create more than 200 jobs year-round.

Minister of Fisheries Stuart Nash says seafood export earnings are expected to grow to just under two billion dollars by 2020.