Ministry probes dead fish mystery

Among the thousands of fish washed up on Northland beaches, including Glinks Gully and Baylys Beach, were seals and stingrays. Photo / Supplied

The Ministry of Fisheries has begun an investigation into an incident in which thousands of fish washed up on Northland beaches at the weekend.

Thousands of yellowtail and some seals and stingrays washed up along Glinks Gully and Baylys Beach last Thursday and Friday, according to holidaymakers.

The fish remained there over the weekend while the seagulls ate them and many onlookers endured the smell.

Bev Ennis was holidaying at Glinks Gully and saw the fish stretching the length of the beach. She claimed the fish were dumped illegally by fishing boats.

"There were thousands, at least 30 kilometres up. It's not on, there's no other excuse. The smell was horrific."

Geoff Nicoll, of Glinks Gully Holiday Park, said there were only yellowtails and they were not dumped.

"The theory of fishermen around here is that the kingfish are chasing in the kahawai and they are chasing in the little ones.

"They were definitely not dumped, they were still alive. This happens every year and in the last month four to five times."

Marine expert Dr Kendall Clements dismissed this claim, saying it was very unusual for this to happen along a 20km stretch of shore.

"It's too much of a coincidence, really strange. Seals and stingrays are not generally known for throwing themselves on the beach."

Darren Edwards, field operations manager for the Ministry of Fisheries Northland, said it was too early to say what the cause was.

"Possibilities are an accident like a net tearing open, a natural event such as algal poisoning or deliberate dumping at sea."

A deliberate dumping is carried out usually by fishing boats which overfish the quota on certain species.

The Ministry of Fisheries asks anyone finding large numbers of fish washed up on the beach or drifting at sea to call 0800 4 POACHER (0800 476 224).