
Where does the word abalone come from?
The name `abalone` comes from the Spanish word `abulon.` Beautiful abalone specimens can be found in New Zealand, where the Maori word for them is Paua. Some people tend to associate paua with brighter colors, such as vivid blues, pinks, and greens; paua shell cabochons are commonly dyed to enhance their color.
What does abalone shell look like?
Abalone have a bowl-like shape with a series of holes along the outside used for respiration, sanitation and breeding. Shell shapes vary between species and the environment they grow in. Some abalone have a corrugated shell margin while others are smooth. Haliotis walallensis has a flat shell compared to other abalone species.
What are the different types of paua shell cabochons?
Some people tend to associate paua with brighter colors, such as vivid blues, pinks, and greens; paua shell cabochons are commonly dyed to enhance their color. Abalone and paua are some of the few organic materials widely regarded as jewelry-quality, others being coral, pearl, amber, jet, and ivory.

What is difference between paua and abalone?
A. They are one and the same, the difference in name is based on where the shell is from or who is naming it. Abalone is derived from the Spanish word "Abulón" and paua from the New Zealand Maori word "paua."
Is NZ paua same as abalone?
Pāua (known as abalone in other countries) are a unique species of shellfish found only in New Zealand.
What is paua called in Australia?
Pāua is the Māori name given to three New Zealand species of large edible sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs which belong to the family Haliotidae (in which there is only one genus, Haliotis), known in the United States and Australia as abalone, and in the United Kingdom as ormer shells.
Is abalone a paua?
Pāua and abalone are both common names for species of Haliotis. Abalone is a more generalized American name for all Haliotis species. Pāua is the common name for the New Zealand species Haliotis iris. Other common names for Haliotis species include ormer in the UK, perlemoen in South Africa and muttonfish in Australia.
Is it illegal to sell paua shells in NZ?
Any information provided stays completely confidential. IT IS ILLEGAL TO SELL OR TRADE YOUR CATCH. Report poaching, suspicious or illegal activity – call 0800 4 POACHER (0800 476 224). For more information collect or download a rules brochure for the “Central Area”.
What do Maori use paua for?
Paua is considered taonga and treasured for its meat and luminous shell, which is used across traditional and modern Māori art. The shell is frequently used for the eyes of Māori carvings and is traditionally associated with the stars or whetū, the symbolic eyes of ancestors that gaze down from the night sky.
Which country has the best abalone?
South Africa's abalone is considered one of the world's most premium, in part the result of strong quality control as well as the fact that it is of a larger size and has a unique taste that is preferred by many. Mexican-captured abalone is considered a world premium.
Can you eat abalone in Australia?
Australia alone is home to 18 species with 10 unique to the continent including the blacklip and greenlip abalone but they are rarely used in Australian cooking. They are more familiar and sought after in Cantonese, Japanese and Korean cuisine which understand and appreciate their light and sweet flavours.
Why is abalone illegal?
Although fishing for white abalone has been illegal in California since 1997, the high price of abalone meat makes them a target of poachers. White abalone were listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in 2001, and were the first marine invertebrate to be listed.
What is abalone called in New Zealand?
päuaNew Zealand's päua, (known as abalone in other countries), are all unique species of abalone found only in New Zealand, and are distinguished by their brilliantly coloured shells. Päua have an oval shaped shell, inside which is a large muscular foot which clings to rocks.
Is abalone healthy to eat?
Abalone has the benefits of being high in protein and has a combination of essential vitamins and minerals. These include calcium, iron, potassium, zinc, beta carotene. The content of fat is low, and almost no cholesterol is present.
Is abalone mother-of-pearl?
There are lots of names for abalone shell as it can be found all over the world. The ear-shaped shell of the abalone is also known as Mother-of-Pearl.
What is similar to abalone?
Substitute for AbaloneCalamari steaks.OR> Clam meat.OR> See recipe above for mock abalone.
Where does paua come from?
Päua are found around the coast of New Zealand, in shallow water clinging to rocks. They are much more abundant, and grow larger, in the colder waters around Stewart Island and Southland.
What type of shellfish is paua?
Pāua are large sea snails that are highly valued by Māori, recreational fishers, and the commercial fishing industry.
What is the scientific name for abalone?
HaliotisHaliotis / Scientific name
What is the name of the sea snail?
Abalone. Abalone ( (listen) or ; via Spanish abulón, from Rumsen aulón) is a common name for any of a group of small to very large sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Haliotidae.Other common names are ear shells, sea ears, and muttonfish or muttonshells in Australia, ormer in England, abalone in South Africa, ...
What is the meaning of the word "paua"?
Wikipedia. ADVERTISEMENT. Paua (noun) A large, edible abalone, Haliotis iris, native to New Zealand, whose shell is used to make jewelry. Paua (noun) The shell of this mollusc. Paua (noun)
What is the difference between a paua and an abalone?
Paua (noun) A fish hook made from this shell. Abalone (noun) An edible univalve mollusc of the genus Haliotis, having a shell lined with mother-of-pearl. from mid-19th century. Abalone (noun) The meat of the aforementioned mollusc. from mid-19th century.
What is an abalone?
Abalone (noun) A univalve mollusk of the genus Haliotis. The shell is lined with mother-of-pearl, and used for ornamental purposes; the sea-ear. Several large species are found on the coast of California, clinging closely to the rocks. Webster Dictionary.
What is an ear shaped gastropod?
any of various large edible marine gastropods of the genus Haliotis having an ear-shaped shell with pearly interior
How many species of haliotis are there?
These subgenera have become alternate representations of Haliotis. The number of species recognized worldwide ranges between 30 and 130 with over 230 species-level taxa described.
What is the inner layer of a shell?
The thick inner layer of the shell is composed of nacre (mother-of-pearl), which in many species is highly iridescent, giving rise to a range of strong, changeable colors, which make the shells attractive to humans as decorative objects, jewelry, and as a source of colorful mother-of-pearl.
How expensive is abalone?
Abalone Price The quantities fished are thus limited in comparison to demand, and the price of wild abalone can run as high as $500USD per kilo, depending on size. The fact that abalone shells are quite heavy only compounds the issue, as a kilo caught roughly translates into 250 grams of meat.
What animal eats paua?
Starfish are the paua's most formidable predator as they have learnt to suffocate the paua by putting their tentacles over the breathing holes thus forcing the paua to let go of the rock.
Are paua pearls rare?
New Zealand's only paua pearl farm produces roughly 1000 stones every year, but only 1 or 2 per cent attain the highest grade of colour and clarity. ... Mike Radon said the paua shell was the most beautiful in the world, one he had been diving for since 1964.
Is paua a shell fish?
By any measure, paua are a pretty special shellfish, but they are hardly unique to New Zealand. Certainly, our main species, the black-footed paua, Haliotis iris, is found only around our shores, but it is closely allied to many similar species of marine snail collectively called abalone.
Can I take paua shells out of New Zealand?
It is fine to take them out of New Zealand - indeed many souvenirs contain some, but Singapore and the Netherlands may object, so please ask their immigration authorities.
Are paua good for you?
The meat of the paua/abalone has also been considered good for eye health. Extremely rich in minerals, vitamins and proteins. Paua/abalone is beneficial for maintaining general health and for supporting the liver.
How much does paua cost?
The current commercial wholesale price for shucked paua is about $130 per kilogram, but poachers are selling to middlemen for between $12 and $20 per kg, with the middlemen on-selling for up to $48 per kg, Fletcher said.
