ABSTRACT
The shellfish industry in New Zealand has grown dramatically over the Fifteen thousand tons of farmed shellfish were produced in 1986, making New Zealand the sixth of the OECD countries. The shellfish industry is dominated by the production of greenshell mussels, Perna canaliculus. Scallops are dredged from the Marlborough Sounds, Tasman Bay and the north eastern coast of the North Island. These are not generally a problem in shellfish sanitation, particularly as only the roe and abductor muscle is eaten. Most of the shellfish farming areas in New Zealand are conditionally approved. Shellfish must arrive at the depuration plant in perfect biological condition. To export any shellfish, including those from a depuration plant, an export license is required. There are only two licensed depuration plants in New Zealand: the Noma Oysters plant in Whangarei and the Tide farm plant in Mahurangi.
