Crayfish FAQs

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Why are crayfish in the Hauraki Gulf referred to as being “functionally extinct”?

September 16, 2025 In 2016, scientists first described crayfish in the Hauraki Gulf as “functionally extinct”. This means that because there are so few crayfish in the marine ecosystem, crayfish can no longer play their vital role in the ecosystem. Part of their role includes predating on kina (sea urchins) and contributing to the health of rocky reefs.
Crayfish

What country does most of our crayfish get exported to?

September 16, 2025 In 2024, more than 2,592,000 kilos of red rock lobster were exported chilled, live to China. That’s more than 99.9% of the total rock lobster exported. Source – Seafood New Zealand, Export Statistics. January-December 2024. Page 104
Crayfish

Why have crayfish in the Hauraki Gulf and some areas of Northland become so depleted?

September 16, 2025 The depletion of crayfish is the direct result of catch limits being set too high for too long, allowing more crayfish to be taken than the fishery could sustain. The catch limits that have been set were driven by flawed, inaccurate science that falsely informed officials and previous fisheries Ministers that the fishery was in ... Read more.
Crayfish