User Contributed Dictionary
- A large, edible abalone, Haliotis iris, native to New Zealand, whose shell is used to make jewelry.
- The shell of this mollusc.
- A fish hook made from this shell.
Extensive Definition
Paua or pāua is the Māori name given
to three species of
large edible sea snails,
marine
gastropod molluscs which belong to the
family
Haliotidae
(genus Haliotis), known in the USA as abalone and in the UK as Ormer
shells.
There are three species of New Zealand paua;
- Paua - Haliotis iris
- Queen paua- Haliotis australis
- Virgin paua - Haliotis virginea
New Zealand's most well known paua species is
Haliotis iris. It is also the most common species, growing up to 18
cm in length.
Distribution
These three species of haliotid are endemic to New Zealand coastal waters.Habitat
Paua are commonly found in shallow coastal waters along rocky shorelines in depths of 1 to 15 m.Life habits
These large sea snails survive the strong tidal surges by clinging to rocks using their large muscular foot. They feed on seaweed.Shell description
The shell of the paua is oval and the exterior is often covered with greyish incrustations. In contrast the interior of a Paua is an iridescent swirl of intense green, blue, purple, and sometimes pink colours.Human use
The paua is iconic in New Zealand: its black muscular foot is considered a delicacy, and the shell is frequently used in jewelry.To Māori, paua are recognised taonga, or treasure, esteemed
both as kai moana (seafood) and as a valued resource for
traditional and contemporary arts and crafts. Paua are frequently
used to represent the eyes in Māori carvings and traditionally are
associated with the stars, or whetu the eyes of ancestors that gaze
down from the night sky.
Paua are gathered recreationally and commercially
but strict catch limits are set for both - for recreational fishers
this is 10 paua per person, per day. The minimum legal size for
caught paua is 125 mm
for Haliotis iris and 80 mm for Haliotis australis.
Paua can only be caught by free diving. It is illegal to dive for
paua using scuba
equipment.
Other names
Paua is also called "Sea Opal".References
- Powell A W B, New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1