The Beauty of Paua Shell

In New Zealand abalone is called paua in the Maori language. It is difficult to harvest paua and the rights can only be granted under legal Maori customary rights. The daily recreational limit is 10 paua per diver with a minimum shell length of 125 mm. The Ministry of Fisheries says that in the years of 2004 and 2005 approximately 1,000 tons of paua will be poached with about three fourths of that undersized.

New Zealands polished paua shells are customary souvenirs because of their beautiful blue, purple, gold and green hues. If you transport unprocessed abalone shells out of New Zealand you are breaking the law.

The amazing color of paua shells are completely natural are polished to gain maximum sheen to show the true colors on the shell.

Paua is a certain species of abalone that is only found around New Zealand. Locals only exploit the natural paua that has washed up on the shoreline. They dont use fake color enhancers, plastic resin coatings, or dyes like some manufacturers do who sometimes harvest thin paua shells.

There are three different species of Paua found in New Zealand counting silver paua- Haliotis australis, Paua- Haliotis iris, and Virgin Paua-Haliotis virginea. Paua is a Maori name that was given to a small group of mono-valve mollusks found in their coastal waters.

Paua are found in the shallow coastal water along rocky shorelines in depths of about one to fifteen m. They feed on nearby seaweed and can survive the powerful tidal surges because they can cling to the rocks with their muscular foot.

The paua is actually ionic in New Zealand and its black muscular foot is considered a delicacy while its shell is used in jewelry and as keep sakes because it is one of the worlds most beautiful shells.

Martin Mallett is the owner of Milton Gems Silver Jewellery and has a range of silver Paua shell jewellery.