People are no longer able to take kuku/mussels from a 0.1 sq km area of Ōhiwa Harbour in Eastern Bay of Plenty.

A two-year ban on taking the shellfish came into force today.

In a statement, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones said the ban will support local efforts to restore mussel beds in the area.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa requested the closure, Te rāhui kuku ki tua o Kanawa, to support its traditional rāhui and an area of the harbour where mussel beds have been reseeded.

“I congratulate Ngāti Awa and the local community for their ongoing mahi and commitment to restoring wild mussels in their harbour. This important work will help ensure the area has healthy mussel populations to be enjoyed by future generations.”

According to a media release from National Science Challenges in 2023, in 2007 there were 116 million mussels in Ōhiwa Harbour.

By 2019 that number had dropped drastically to under 80,000. In 2021, a mātauranga-led research project increased mussels on the seafloor to 800,000.

The 0.1 sq km closure is enforceable by Fishery Officers.

A map of all customary fishing management areas. Image: MPI

More information on the temporary closure, including a map of the closed area, can found on the Fisheries New Zealand website.

More about local efforts to restore mussels beds in Ōhiwa Harbour can be found on the Sustainable Seas Challenge website.