The company received 27 shipments of the live green-lipped mussels. Photo: NIWA/Rebekah Parsons-KingA Christchurch-based fish processor has been fined $20,000 for illegally handling live mussels from a restricted biosecurity zone. Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) investigators found the company received 27 shipments - more than 239 tonnes - of live green-lipped mussels from the Upper South Contained Zone near Nelson and Marlborough. A biosecurity inspector discovered the green-lipped mussels were being moved illegally in October 2024, MPI said. "These green-lipped mussel shellfish were for export, and the unlawful movement of this shellfish had potential to cause serious reputational harm to the New Zealand shellfish industry.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 16, 2026 07:41 UTC