Black Abalone (Blackfoot Paua)

Common name Pāua, Blackfoot pāua or Rainbow Abalone. Paua belong to the Haliotidae family (abalones).

Length: 12.5–18cm (12.5cm legal minimum shell size for harvest)

Weight: 300-400g.

Availability:

Black Abalone is available year-round, though catch quotas and regulations may affect availability in certain regions and seasons.

Abalone (Paua) is farmed or harvested year-round, primarily from the Kaikoura and Southland coasts, Stewart Island, and the Chatham Islands. Divers are limited to snorkelling equipment and may only take Paua that exceed the minimum size requirement.

Storage conditions: Store at 3 - 6°C/37 – 43°F

Shelf life: 7 days from date of packing

Format: Live chilled product in Modified Atmosphere Packing (MAP).

Pieces per tray: 2

Pack Weight: Net 600g - 720g / 1.32lb - 1.58lb

Tray dimensions: 190mm/7.5” wide x 250mm/9.8” long, 45mm/1.8” to 50mm/2” deep.

Polybox quantity: 16 trays

Polybox net weight, approx: 10.56kg / 23.28lb

Polybox gross weight, approx: 13.56/ 29.89lb

Abalone (Paua) provides a rich array of nutrients including Protein, Omega-3 fatty acids, Iodine, Iron, Vitamin B12, Selenium, and Copper. It also contains Phosphorus, Magnesium, Potassium, Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), and Niacin (Vitamin B3).

For tender paua, gently remove it from the shell and cook quickly over high heat with care. Avoid overcooking to prevent a rubbery texture; cooked paua changes color and curls at the edges. Tenderize by lightly pounding or briefly par-boiling in steaming water. Enjoy it grilled, stir-fried, sautéed, baked, poached in seafood broth, barbecued, or in a Kiwi classic: paua fritters.

The commercial paua fishery began in the mid-1940s, initially discarding the meat and only marketing the shells. By the late 1950s, both meat and shell were being sold. Today, the main commercial catch is from the Wairarapa coast southwards, with significant fishing grounds in Marlborough, Stewart Island, and the Chatham Islands. Paua are typically harvested by free diving, with regulations on catch limits and minimum size requirements. In many areas, commercial fishers have voluntarily increased size limits to support sustainability. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) assesses paua abundance as stable in some regions, while in others, catch limits have been adjusted to foster population growth.