Paua

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Paua

Paua or paua is the Maori

Maori

The Maori are the indigenous people Polynesian people of Aotearoa . The group probably arrived in south-western Polynesia in several waves at some time before 1300....
name given to three species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring....
of large edible sea snail

Snail

The word snail is a common name for almost all members of the molluscan class Gastropoda that have coiled animal shells in the adult stage. When the word snail is used in a general sense, it includes sea snails, land snails and freshwater snails....
s, marine

Marine (ocean)

Marine is an umbrella term. As an adjective it is usually applicable to things relating to the sea or ocean, such as marine biology, marine ecology and marine geology....
gastropod molluscs which belong to the family

Family (biology)

In biological classification, family is a taxonomic rank. Exact details of formal nomenclature depend on the Nomenclature Codes which applies....
Haliotidae (genus Haliotis), known in the USA as abalone

Abalone

Abalone are medium-sized to very large edible sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Haliotidae and the genus Haliotis....
, and in the UK as ormer shells.

There are three species of New Zealand paua: New Zealand's best known paua species is Haliotis iris.

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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

Mollusc shell

File:Amerikanische Bohrmuschel.JPGThe mollusc shell or mollusk shellOften spelled mollusk shell in the USA; the spelling "mollusc" is preferred by is typically a calcareous exoskeleton which encloses, supports and protects the soft parts of an animal in the phylum Mollusca....
of the paua is oval, and the exterior is often covered with greyish incrustations. In contrast, the interior layer of shell (called the nacre

Nacre

Nacre, also known as mother of pearl, is an organic-inorganic composite material produced by some mollusks as an inner seashell layer. It is strong, resilient, and Iridescence....
) of a Paua is an iridescent swirl of intense green, blue, purple, and sometimes pink colours.

Harvesting

Paua are gathered recreationally and commercially but strict catch limits are set for both. For recreational fishers this is ten 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

Scuba set

A scuba set is an independent breathing set that provides a scuba diver with the breathing gas necessary to breathe underwater during scuba diving....
equipment.

There is an extensive global black market in the collection and export of abalone meat. Paua poaching

Poaching

Poaching is the illegal hunting, fishing or eating of wild plants or animals contrary to local and international Conservation and wildlife management laws....
is a major industry in New Zealand with many thousands being taken illegally, often undersized. The right to harvest paua can be granted legally under Maori customary rights, but when permits to harvest are abused, it is difficult to police. The limit is strictly enforced by roving Ministry of Fisheries officers with the backing of police

New Zealand Police

The New Zealand Police is the national police force of New Zealand, responsible for enforcing criminal and traffic law, enhancing public safety, maintaining order and keeping the peace throughout New Zealand....
. Convictions have resulted in seizure of diving gear, boats, and motor vehicles as well as fines and in rare cases, imprisonment. The Ministry of Fisheries expects in the year 2004/05, nearly 1,000 tons of paua will be poached, with 75% of that being undersized.

Human use

To Maori, paua are recognised taonga

Taonga

A taonga in Maori culture is a treasured thing, whether tangible or intangible. Tangible examples are all sorts of Antiques and Artefact s, real property and fisheries....
, 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 Maori carvings and traditionally are associated with the stars, or whetu the eyes of ancestors that gaze down from the night sky.

The paua is iconic in New Zealand: its black muscular foot is considered a delicacy, and the shell is frequently used in jewelry.

Highly polished New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous Islands of New Zealand, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands....
paua shells are extremely popular as souvenirs with their striking blue, green, and purple iridescence.

Quick fact about the Paua shell: The Paua shells make up the decoration on Xena's first chakram

Chakram

The chakram , sometimes called a war quoit, is a throwing weapon that was used by the ancient hindus, Sikh people; it is a flat metal disc with a sharp outer edge from 5 to 12 inches in diameter....
in the hit TV series Xena: Warrior Princess

Xena: Warrior Princess

Xena: Warrior Princess is an United States television series that aired from September 15, 1995 until June 18, 2001. The series was produced by Renaissance Pictures in association with Universal Studios....
. Although the show was set predominately in Ancient Greece

Ancient Greece

The term Ancient Greece refers to the period of History of Greece lasting from the Greek Dark Ages ca. 1100 BC and the Dorian invasion, to 146 BC and the Roman Republic conquest of Greece after the Battle of Corinth ....
, the shell is used because the Paua is native to New Zealand, the location of where the show was actually filmed.

Other names

Paua is also called "Sea Opal".

Reading

McCrea, Malcolm (2005) Paua Craft: A Nga Paua.| url = http://www.pauamana.com Raupo Publishing (NZ). ISBN 0790009951.