5 Jan 2011

Dead snapper found on Coromandel beaches

3:31 pm on 5 January 2011

Hundreds of dead snapper have washed up on two Coromandel beaches.

The Ministry of Fisheries says the find was reported on Tuesday afternoon, with fish bring washed up at Little Bay and Waikawau Bay.

Field operations manager Brendon Mikkelsen says dead fish were seen further out to sea early Tuesday morning, but the sighting was not reported until later in the day.

Many of the fish are missing their eyes, which Mr Mikkelsen says indicates they had been dead in the water for some time.