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

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 Southland FMA. All oysters taken within the Southland FMA are subject to season, daily limit and minimum 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 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.

Oyster dredge size restriction

• Within certain areas of the Foveaux Strait dredge oyster fishery, use or possession of a dredge with a bar or bit exceeding 1 metre in length is prohibited. (Contact the Ministry for Primary Industries for further details)

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 being two times the maximum daily bag limit of paua; or
• shucked weight (shell removed) of 2.5kgs of paua.

This possession limit applies everywhere, including in the home. 

Shellfish species	Maximum daily limit per fisher	Minimum size (mm)
Cockle	150	none
Kina (sea egg)	50	none
Mussel	25*	none
Oyster - Dredge	50^	58
Paua - Ordinary - Yellow foot	10 10	125 80
Pipi	150	none
Scallop	10^	100
Toheroa #	Prohibited	Prohibited
Tuatua	150	none
All Others (combined) •	50	none

* Excluding Stewart Island where the mussel limit is 50.

^ Divers on a vessel may take an additional quota of oysters or scallops for up to two persons acting in a dive safety capacity. Note: this only applies to the taking of oysters and scallops.

# Toheroa must not be taken, possessed, or disturbed unless authorised by a Customary Authority.

• This is a combined, mixed-species bag limit. It applies to all shellfish species not specifically named above and includes all crabs, limpets, catseyes, Cook's turban, starfish, periwinkles and freshwater crayfish (koura).