Pāua quota cut in half in South Island to allow stocks to recover

Tuesday, 19 November 2019

South Island pāua divers will have their daily limit cut down by half from next month.

​In Kaikōura, Canterbury, Marlborough and Nelson, the current legal limit is 10 pāua per person or 20 pāua or 2.5 kilograms of minced meat during a multi-day fishing trip. The limits apply to both black and yellow foot pāua. From December 12, the limit will be halved to five per day or a maximum of 10 pāua or 1.25kg per person on a multiple-day fishing trip.

Fisheries Management's director, Stuart Anderson, said the new quota was designed to help the stock's depleted numbers recover after the 7.8-magnitude earthquake in 2016.

'The earthquakes caused an uplift of coastline in Kaikōura, Canterbury, Marlborough and Nelson, which had a significant impact on pāua populations,' Anderson said.

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'This was a unique event, and we need to be cautious to ensure the long term sustainability of the resource.

'The change to harvest levels has been informed by the best available science and consultation with the local community, during which there was strong support for a reduction,' he said.

In 2016 and 2017, the total commercial catch limits had been decreased by 50 per cent in all four areas, but the commercial industry in Nelson and Marlborough had voluntarily reduced their legal fishing quota by going further 10 per cent.

'The commercial and recreational catch changes help ensure that everyone plays their part in helping to maintain the sustainability of the fisheries,' Anderson said.

'Brochures, including information about the new bag and accumulation limit, will be made available.'

Pauamac 7 chairman Barry Chandler welcomed the move and supported the recreational reduction of the harvesting of pāua.