Ngati Kahungunu iwi in Hawke's Bay has successfully completed the first pilot paua re-seeding project in the region.
Its fisheries director Adele Whyte says the joint venture with the paua industry association, local communities and scientists, aims to substantially boost the paua population, which has been declining.
She says this week dozens of net sacks, each containing about 1000 juvenile paua from Te Kaha in Eastern Bay of Plenty, were successfully planted in rocky areas at three beaches, Waimarama, Pourerere and Porangahau.
Dr Whyte says small handfuls of baby paua were carefully placed under crevices or rock ledges in water between one and two metres deep.
She says there was great support from three hapu and in some cases three generations from the same family were helping out.
Dr Whyte says the iwi will be putting a management plan in place and regularly monitoring the paua.
