Submitted by admin on April 23, 2009 - 00:47
Shellfish
In Foveaux Strait the dredge oysters, which are the most abundant and most important shellfish species, are taken mainly from depths of 10–18 fathoms and the production over the last two seasons has been approximately 100,000 sacks p.a. The production of the rock oyster fishery, on the other hand, which is confined to the intertidal zone in the Auckland area – the Hauraki Gulf, Whangarei Harbour, Kaipara Harbour, and Bay of Islands – averages 4,000 sacks p.a.
The principal mussel fishery, with an annual production of 25,000 sacks, is confined to the Hauraki Gulf. Toheroas are found on beaches of the west coast of North Auckland, on the Wellington west coast at Waitarere, at Ohope in the Bay of Plenty, and also in Southland at Oreti Beach and in Te Waewae Bay. Stocks are not good and only small quantities are canned in the two months open season. Paua and scallops are both taken commercially in small quantities.
Within the last three years there have been renewed efforts, with some success, to develop eel fisheries, mainly in the Auckland area and in Canterbury at Lake Ellesmere.