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 30/09/2023
Commercial use
Reported catch MHR (kg) 756,464
Commercial allowance TACC (kg) 959,264
Export volume (kg) 0
Estimated domestic consumption (kg) Unknown

Customary use
Customary allowance (kg) 50,500
Customary take (kg) Unknown

Recreational use
Recreational allowance (kg) 60,000
Recreational take (kg) Unknown

Other sources of mortality
Other mortality allowance (kg) 50,000 
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) 202,043 326,543 3,000 3,000 Yes Yes
PAU2 Paua Central 129,393 121,188 Yes Yes
PAU5A Paua Fiordland 111,513 148,983 Yes Yes
PAU5B Paua Stewart Island 105,064 107,000 7,000 6,000 Yes Yes
PAU7 Paua Challenger (Nelson/Marlbo... 76,542 93,620 15,000 15,000 Yes Yes
PAU5D Paua Southland and Otago 62,755 89,000 3,000 22,000 Yes Yes
PAU3B Paua Canterbury 46,018 46,000 15,000 9,000 Yes Yes
PAU3A Paua Kaikōura 22,714 23,000 7,500 5,000 Yes Yes
PAU1 Paua Auckland 422 1,930 Yes Yes
PAU10 Paua Kermadec 1,000 Yes Yes
PAU6 Paua Challenger (Westland) 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
   756,464 959,264 50,500 60,000