OIA21-1258
7 December 2021
Wendy Pond
[FYI request #17492 email]
Dear Wendy Pond
Thank you for your email of 9 November 2021 requesting information relating to annual
records of eel exports. Your request has been considered under the Official Information Act
1982 (OIA).
You requested the following:
“Please provide annual records of the number of (a) long fin and (b) short fin eels
exported to Japan each year since 2000. What factors have affected the variation in
numbers”
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) does not have records for eel exports before 2004.
The export records we do have unfortunately do not separate long and short fin eels. Your
request for “
annual records of the number of (a) long fin and (b) short fin eels exported to
Japan each year since 2000” is therefore refused under section 18(g) of the OIA on the basis
that the information requested is not held by the department or venture or Minister of the
Crown or organisation.
MPI can provide you with total eel export volumes to Japan from 2004 until 2021. There have
been no eel exports to Japan since 2014. Data on eel exports from 2004 to 2021 is attached
as Appendix One.
Your request for factors affecting the variation in export numbers is also refused under
section 18(g). There are many possible factors in this variation including catch limits, the
number of licensed fish receivers processing eels, commercial decisions and market prices.
I trust the information provided is of assistance. Should you have any concerns with this
response, I would encourage you to raise these with the Ministry for Primary Industries at
[email address]. Alternatively, you are advised of your right to also raise
any concerns with the Office of the Ombudsman. Contact details are: Office of the
Ombudsman, PO Box 10152, Wellington 6143 or a
t [email address].
Yours sincerely
Wido van Lijf
Acting Director Strategy & Insights
Charles Fergusson Building, 34-38 Bowen Street
PO Box 2526
Wel ington 6140, New Zealand
mpi.govt.nz
