Trackers pinpoint paua catches

World-leading paua tracking technology will save the paua industry thousands of dollars, as well as ensuring the shellfish resource is better managed, a Rarangi paua diver who trialled the new equipment says.

The data loggers, one which is carried by paua divers, and the other which remains on the support boat, were developed by Paua Industry Council chief executive Jeremy Cooper with support from members.

They allowed divers to record the exact bay or reef each catch came from.

Information is then downloaded at the end of each day, so it can eventually be compared with previous years.

Rarangi paua diver Jason Baker has been trialling the loggers for about three months and is impressed.

Previously, recording catch locations was limited to marking the five to 10 square kilometre area where divers were, Mr Baker said.

This lack of exact information also meant the Ministry of Fisheries required periodical stock assessments, which cost the industry $350,000, he said.

"This gives us a much better tool for management...no-one else in the world is doing this."

Mr Cooper said both loggers, which were made by Nelson-based company Zebra-Tech, could be customised for use in other fisheries. The paua season begins next month.

- The Marlborough Express

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