Bay of Plenty's Ohiwa Harbour, near Opotiki, was officially closed to the taking of green-lipped mussels for two years today, to allow small shellfish to grow to full size.
A formal ceremony by local iwi today followed a rahui, or traditional closure, placed on the harbour last year.
The Ministry of Fisherieshas provided an official temporary closure in support of the rahui.
Marine studies students from Bay of Plenty Polytechnic would monitor the mussel beds during the closure, the ministry said in a statement.
