Download AEBR 339 Chemical contaminants in kaimoana from Kawhia and Aotea Harbours

Nga Hapu o Te Uru o Tainui Fisheries Forum raised concerns with Fisheries New Zealand over mass mortality of some shellfish, especially tītiko or pupu (mud snails), observed by iwi members around the margins of the Kawhia and Aotea Harbours, in northwestern New Zealand.
The mass mortality of the shellfish appeared to have coincided with the spraying of herbicide around the margins of the harbour to control an invasive marsh plant Spartina, raising the possibility of collateral effects from chemical contamination.
Surveys of shellfish size and abundance, as well as analyses for a wide range pesticide residues in samples from the two harbours could find no indication of possible effects due to chemical contamination.
Tītiko from these two harbours should be safe for human consumption based on the consistent absence of chemical pesticide residues of concern in the analyses of sediment and tītiko tissues.