We have recently been made aware of an extremely unfortunate systems failure at our live holding facilities on the Chatham Islands. Regrettably it has meant that approximately 300kg of kōura (lobster/crayfish) was affected and deemed unfit for consumption.
Moana New Zealand’s quota is caught by Port Nicholson Fisheries under a joint venture agreement and the live holding facilities are on the Moana New Zealand processing facilities in Waitangi, Chatham Islands.
Port Nicholson Fisheries and Moana New Zealand followed the correct procedures and immediately informed the Ministry for Primary Industries and were advised of the need to dispose of the product.
We can confirm the catch was caught under the quota management system and has been accounted for against the Port Nicholson Fisheries quota holding.
We only catch to market demand. Unfortunately alternative methods to save the product like freezing or tailing were not an option in this case and it was deemed unsafe for human consumption. It was disposed of at an approved fish waste dump.
Steve Tarrant, Chief Executive Officer, Moana New Zealand