Southern Region Fishery Management Area
Shellfish
UBA - Underwater Breathing Apparatus (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
Dredge Oysters: Within the Southland Fishery Management Area the open season is
1 March to 31 August inclusive.
Scallops: Within the Southland Fishery Management Area the open season is 1 October to 15 March inclusive. Within the South-East Fishery Management Area the open season is 15 July to 14 February inclusive.
How to measure shellfish
Paua: Measure the greatest length of the shell in a straight line. (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)
Protection of Coral
No person may take or possess black coral.
No person may take or possess red coral.
Southern region shellfish restrictions.
Shellfish species | Daily limit
per person | Minimum |
|---|
Cocklesx | 150 | none |
|---|
Kina (sea eggs) | 50 | none |
|---|
Mussels - South-East FMA | 50 | none |
|---|
- Southland FMA* | 25 | none |
|---|
Oysters - Dredge - South-East FMA ◊ + | 50 | none |
|---|
- Dredge - Southland FMA + | 50 | 58 |
|---|
Paua - Ordinary | 10 | 125 |
|---|
- Yellow foot | 10 | 80 |
|---|
Pipi | 150 | none |
|---|
Scallops - Southland FMA + | 10 | 100 |
|---|
- South-East FMA + | 20 | 100 |
|---|
Toheroa # | Prohibited | Prohibited |
|---|
Tuatua | 150 | none |
|---|
All Others (combined)** | 50 | none |
|---|
◊ Dredge oysters taken in the South-East FMA have no restriction on either size or season
* Excluding Stewart Island where the mussel limit is 50
+ 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
# Toheroa must not be taken, possessed, or disturbed unless authorised by a Customary Authority or an open season is declared by the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Fisheries
** This is a combined, mixed-species bag limit. It applies to all shellfish species not specifically named above, and includes paddle crab and freshwater crayfish (koura).
Note: No Rock or Pacific oysters are known to exist in Southland FMA or South-East FMA.