Legasea – A golden opportunity: Community-led scallop restoration

A coalition of iwi, environmental groups, local associations, and industry experts has come together to promote a bold restorative management plan for the future of the Coromandel scallop fishery.

The Problem – Decades of mismanagement, overallocation, and the destructive use of Victorian box dredges drove the Coromandel scallop fishery to collapse. It was only after sustained pressure from the local community, led by Ngāti Hei, that then Minister David Parker moved to close the fishery in 2022.

The Plan – The community-led plan prioritises rebuilding the marine environment and ensures the local community benefits from the harvest of scallops from local waters. The approach aims to:

1. Restore scallop populations; and 
2. End dredging and transition to hand-gathering only. 
3. Create new opportunities for sustainable aquaculture and regional economies.

How does the plan work? 

1. The Government invests in buying back scallop quota from current stakeholders.
2. In its place, a licensing system will be introduced, granting commercial permits only to those harvesting scallops through low-impact, selective methods such as hand gathering with breathing apparatus.
3. A percentage of the revenue generated from these permits would be used to:
   1. Pay off the initial acquisition cost of quota.
   1. Fund ongoing research and monitoring.
   1. Align with Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Further information about scallops –

Frequently asked Questions – scallop restoration plan

LegaSea, September 2025

How did we get here?

Article. LegaSea, April 2024.

A Golden Opportunity: Community’s innovative scallop plan

Press Release. LegaSea, 1 September 2025