Shellfish
Underwater breathing apparatus (UBA)
(Does not include snorkels)
- No person may take 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.
Open seasons
Scallops: Within the South-East Fishery Management Area the open season is 15 July to 14 February inclusive.
Dredge Oysters: 1 March to 31 August 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 58 mm.
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 the opening of dredge oysters and scallops for consumption onboard a vessel). Any scallops and dredge oysters not eaten must be landed in the shell.
| Shellfish species |
Maximum daily limit per person |
Minimum size (mm) |
| Cockle * |
150 |
none |
| Kina (sea egg) |
50 |
none |
| Mussel |
50 |
none |
Oyster
- Dredge ^+ |
50
|
58
|
Paua
- Ordinary
- Yellow foot |
10
10
|
125
80
|
| Pipi |
150 |
none |
| Scallop |
20 |
100 |
| Tuatua |
150 |
none |
| All Others (combined)• |
50 |
none |
* The East Otago Taiapure area has a maximum daily limit of 50 cockles with a combined daily bag limit of 50 shellfish per person. Download the East Otago Taiapure area brochure.
^ Hand gathering dredge oysters: Within the South-East FMA there is no restriction on either size or season for dredge oysters taken by the method hand-gathering, which includes shore picking and free diving but does not include diving using underwater breathing apparatus. The exception is the waters of the Chatham Islands where the dredge oyster minimum size of 58 mm applies. During the open season dredge oysters can be harvested by dredge and the use of underwater breathing apparatus. Both the daily limit and minimum size of 58 mm applies.
+ 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. Note: This only applies to taking scallops and oysters.
• This is a combined, mixed-species bag limit. It applies to all shellfish species not specifically named above and includes all crabs, limpets, starfish, periwinkles, whelks, barnacles and freshwater crayfish (koura).
Protection of Coral
No person may take or possess black coral.
- No person may take or possess red coral.
Paua Accumulation Limits
When daily limits are accumulated the maximum number or amount of paua (includes all paua species) that one person can have in their possession at any one time is:
- 20 Paua or
- shucked weight (shell removed) of 2.5kgs of paua
This possession limit applies everywhere, including in the home.