Siphonophore Incident Update
Normal farm operations have now resumed following the siphonophore event that affected our Akaroa Harbour pens in March.
Siphonophores are jellyfish-like creatures that live in the open ocean. While harmless to humans, they have stinging cells that can be fatal to fish.
Strong south-westerly winds carried these siphonophores into Akaroa Harbour on March 4, where they entered some of our salmon nets, resulting in the loss of at least 25% of our stock.
Our team worked tirelessly to clear any affected fish and to protect the remaining stock, which has recovered well.
We have worked with experts from the Ministry of Primary Industries and can confirm there are no food safety concerns around this incident.
This was the first recorded instance of siphonophores causing fish losses in Australasia. It was a natural event, completely beyond our control—just as a snowstorm during lambing would be for sheep farmers.
We have been overwhelmed by the positive support from our community, customers, and the wider salmon sector. Now our focus is on supporting our staff and customers to resume production and plan ahead for 2025.
We strive to produce some of the world's finest King salmon, and the quality remains as exceptional as ever.
Thank you for your support over this difficult time,
Regards from Stewart and the whole Akaroa King Salmon team.
Customers
For any specific supply or pricing queries, please contact us directly. https://akaroasalmon.co.nz/pages/contactus