OIA24-0661
3 October 2024
Katherine Raue
[FYI request #28311 email]
Dear Katherine Raue
Thank you for your email of 6 September 2024 requesting information relating to sick
snapper being caught in Kaipara Harbour. Your request has been considered under the
Official Information Act 1982 (OIA).
You requested the following:
I hereby request all information regarding reports of recent catches of snapper in
Kaipara and elsewhere affected by what has been referred to in media reports as
"zombie fish" and "white flesh syndrome", and fish with high levels of aluminium.
I request all information regarding estimates of how many fish are affected and the
locations they have been found, the source(s) of the aluminium, and all information
regarding what MPI is doing about this, including all information regarding water
testing and testing of the affected fish.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has received reports of some snapper in Kaipara
Harbour that presented with cloudy eyes, among other symptoms.
MPI has tested samples of the affected fish, and to date our tests have not identified any
food safety concerns associated with common foodborne pathogens and contaminants, nor
any exotic or emerging diseases in the affected fish. While the tests found no food safety
concerns, our advice is that if any animal you catch or hunt looks unhealthy, you should not
eat it.
Histological examinations and tests for heavy metals, including aluminium, PCBs (chemicals)
and naturally occurring biotoxins have not identified a cause of the condition.
Histological analysis has shown that snapper with cloudy eyes have different symptoms to
snapper with Milky White Flesh syndrome. For more information, I encourage you to visit the
following link: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/fishing-aquaculture/recreational-fishing/information-
on-popular-fish-in-nz/snapper-status-and-information/milky-white-flesh-in-snapper-and-some-
other-finfish/
A document titled ‘
Cloudy eyed snapper from Kaipara Harbour and other areas’ is being
publicly released on MPI’s website within four weeks. Your request for reports on cloudy
eyed snapper is therefore refused under section 18(d) of the OIA –
that the information
requested is or will soon be publicly available.
Information about milky white flesh in snapper can be found at
https://www.mpi.govt.nz/fishing-aquaculture/recreational-fishing/information-on-popular-fish-
in-nz/snapper-status-and-information/milky-white-flesh-in-snapper-and-some-other-finfish/
Charles Fergusson Building, 34-38 Bowen Street
PO Box 2526
Wel ington 6140, New Zealand
fisheries.govt.nz
A Fisheries Assessment Report titled
‘Distribution and potential causes of milky fleshed
snapper in SNA 1’ can be found at https://www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/62775-FAR-
202425-Distribution-and-potential-causes-of-milky-fleshed-snapper-in-SNA-1.
Should you have any concerns with this response, I would encourage you to raise these with
the Ministry for Primary Industries at [email address]. Alternatively, you
are advised of your right to also raise any concerns with the Office of the Ombudsman.
Contact details are: Office of the Ombudsman, PO Box 10152, Wellington 6143 or at
[email address].
Yours sincerely
Rich Ford
Director, Science and Information
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