Fisheries Infosite

Black Paua & Yellowfoot Paua (PAU)
Maori name
Scientific name
Haliotis iris, H. australis

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 
for the 12 month period to 30/09/2015
Commercial use
Reported catch MHR (kg) 903,566
Commercial allowance TACC (kg) 1,058,499
Export volume (kg) 0
Estimated domestic consumption (kg) Unknown

Customary use
Customary allowance (kg) 24,000
Customary take (kg) Unknown

Recreational use
Recreational allowance (kg) 43,000
Recreational take (kg) Unknown

Other sources of mortality
Other mortality allowance (kg) 26,000 
Illegal take (kg) Unknown 
Commercial Catch vs. Allowance* - Trend
Reported catch by month* - Trend
*All amounts are shown in thousands of kgs.


The decision to increase the PAU5B TACC and customary allowance on 1 October 2018 was not implemented due to a High Court issued interim order. That order was discharged on 30 September 2022 and the increase actioned on 1 October 2022. This page will show the increased TACC and customary catch allowance as being from 1 October 2018, but the catch levels will still be at the lesser amount which reflects the lower TACC that was available at the time.

Fishstock CodeNameReported comm. catch (kg)TACC (kg)Cust. allow. (kg)Rec. allow. (kg)Target In QMS
PAU4 Paua South-East (Chatham Rise) 295,157 326,543 Yes Yes
PAU7 Paua Challenger (Nelson/Marlbo... 133,584 187,240 15,000 15,000 Yes Yes
PAU2 Paua Central 114,664 121,188 Yes Yes
PAU5A Paua Fiordland 106,954 148,983 Yes Yes
PAU3 Paua South-East (Kaikoura Coas... 90,444 91,615 Yes Yes
PAU5B Paua Stewart Island 89,457 90,000 6,000 6,000 Yes Yes
PAU5D Paua Southland and Otago 71,879 89,000 3,000 22,000 Yes Yes
PAU6 Paua Challenger (Westland) 956 1,000 Yes Yes
PAU1 Paua Auckland 471 1,930 Yes Yes
PAU10 Paua Kermadec 1,000 Yes Yes
PAU6A Paua Sub-Antarctic Yes Yes
PAU6R Paua PAU6 Research Program Yes No
PAUET Paua Extra Territorial (200 mi... Yes No
   903,566 1,058,499 24,000 43,000