Advice to fishers on north NSW coast

The NSW Food Authority advises fishers to avoid eating Spanish Mackerel above 10kgs (as advised by NSW industry experts), as there is an increased risk of ciguatera poisoning.

Commercial fishers, recreational fishers and consumers should not eat large Spanish Mackerel, as two recent incidents on the mid north and far north coast have been reported in NSW.

The Authority has been advised of an incident of ciguatera poisoning at Scotts Head, south of Macksville on the first weekend in March, from a large Spanish Mackerel.

This follows a recent incident of ciguatera poisoning from a Spanish mackerel caught on Chaos Reef, South East of Evans Head NSW in February. An advice to fishers in the area was issued at the time. There have also been reports of ciguatera poisoning to Queensland Health authorities, reportedly following the consumption of a Spanish Mackerel caught on the Gold Coast.

The Department of Primary Industries provided 117,000 recreational fishing licence holders with the previous advice following the Evans Head case.

More information on ciguatera poisoning.