Shellfish
UBA - Underwater breathing apparatus (does not include snorkels)
- No person may take any paua using UBA.
- No person may be in possession of paua while in possession of UBA. This includes possession, in or on any vessel or vehicle.
Dredges prohibited
- No person may use or possess any dredge within the Fiordland Marine Area.
Open seasons
Dredge Oysters: Within the Southland Fishery Management Area the open season is 1 March to 31 August inclusive.
Note: No Rock or Pacific oysters are known to exist in the Southland Fishery Management Area (including Fiordland Marine Area). All oysters taken within the Southland FMA are subject to season, daily limit and size restrictions.
Scallops: Within the Southland Fishery Management Area the open season is 1 October to 15 March inclusive.
How to measure shellfish
Paua: measure the greatest length of the shell in a straight line, parallel to the ventral surface. (Do not measure over the curve of the shell)
Scallops: measure the greatest diameter of the shell.
Dredge Oysters: must not pass through a rigid circular metal ring with an inside diameter of 58mm.
Shellfish to be landed in a measurable state
All shellfish to which a minimum size restriction applies (including paua, scallops and dredge oysters) must be landed in the shell and cannot be shucked or shelled seaward of the mean high-water mark.
- Within prescribed limits, provision exists permitting opening of dredge oysters and scallops for consumption onboard a vessel. Any scallops or oysters not eaten must be landed in the shell.
| Shellfish species |
Maximum daily limit per fisher |
Minimum size (mm) |
| Cockle |
150 |
none |
| Kina (sea egg) |
50 |
none |
| Mussel |
25 |
none |
| Oysters - Dredge † |
50 |
58 |
Paua
- Ordinary black foot*
- Yellow foot* |
10
10
|
125
80
|
| Pipi |
150 |
none |
| Scallop † * |
10 |
100 |
| Tuatua |
150 |
none |
| All Others (combined) • |
50 |
none |
* No Accumulation of paua or scallop daily limits taken with the Fiordland Marine Area.
† Limited provision allows a diver on a vessel to gather extra bag limits of oysters and scallops for up to 2 other people acting in a dive safety capacity from that vessel.
• This is a combined, mixed-species bag limit. It applies to all shellfish species not specifically named above and includes all crabs, catseyes, Cook's turban, limpets, starfish, periwinkles and freshwater crayfish (koura).
Protection of coral
No person may take or possess any black coral or red coral.