The Chatham Islands’ inshore fisheries are dominated by exceptionally high-value species. Fisheries here account for around 20 percent of inshore fish catch by value.

 

These fisheries include New Zealand’s largest paua fishery, as well as nationally-significant rock lobster, blue cod and kina fisheries.

 

The high value of species caught in the Chathams mean a lot of the product is air-freighted fresh or live, rather than being frozen and sent by ship.