The past and future life of New Zealand Black Gold Abalone

Black gold abalone is a famous product unique to New Zealand and one of the national symbols of New Zealand. It is a pure wild, zero-pollution, original ecological high-end marine treasure. New Zealand is located at the southernmost tip of the Pacific Ocean, very close to Antarctica. It is a naturally formed island country due to volcanic eruptions. Surrounded by the sea, the air is fresh and green, and the island's harmonious ecological environment with zero pollution has earned New Zealand the reputation of "the last pure land on earth" in the world. Many of the ingredients produced are also famous around the world, such as beef and mutton, dairy products, kiwi fruits, etc. There is no heavy industry in the territory, it is far away from pollution sources, and it has the purest ocean in the world, making it an ideal source of top-quality seafood.

New Zealand is one of the few areas in the world where pure wild abalone grows. The clear cold sea water and natural seaweed provide an excellent environment for the growth and reproduction of abalone. The black abalone growing in the waters of New Zealand is a very rare marine life that has existed since ancient times and is called a living fossil by biologists. The meat and shell of this kind of black abalone are very popular among New Zealanders, and it is praised by the locals as Black Gold - black gold, so it has the reputation of "black gold abalone".

In New Zealand’s indigenous Maori culture and beliefs, black golden abalone plays a very important role. It is believed by the Maori people to have the magical power to ward off evil and protect the race. Therefore, the black gold abalone is a very common element in Maori mythology. The black gold abalone can also be seen everywhere in Maori sculptures. Because wild abalone resources are extremely limited, in order to maintain sustainable fishery development, the New Zealand government has formulated a series of strict restrictions on black golden abalone in terms of fishing quotas and fishing operations.

Unlike other countries, artificial diving fishing is the only legal way to harvest black golden abalone in New Zealand, and the law prohibits carrying any artificial oxygen equipment while diving. During the limited time underwater, divers must also select abalone with a diameter of more than 12.5 centimeters before fishing, which is extremely difficult. Due to its suitable growth environment, New Zealand waters are home to a variety of wild marine animals all year round. Large and highly aggressive marine animals such as seals and sharks are very common in offshore areas. For divers working underwater, It's no small danger. Therefore, the number of black golden abalone caught ashore is limited and extremely precious.

Black golden abalone grows in the sea near the Antarctic above 40 degrees south latitude. The cold water causes them to grow very slowly. It usually takes about 8-10 years for a black gold abalone to grow to the smallest size that can be caught. Therefore, the surface of the shell has a thick layer of rough rocky material and sometimes seaweed, which is very different from the smooth shell of farmed abalone. . The polished black gold abalone shells are colorful and look like treasures. They are widely used to make high-end jewelry and are expensive.

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