.verenabloo

gallery

This is actually a Paua shell, known in some areas of the world as Abalone or Sea Opal. It's a large sea snail, and survives strong tidal surges by clinging to rocks using their huge muscular 'foot.' They feed on seaweed. It's beautiful colours are iridescent swirls of intense green, bloo, purple and pink. They only live on the shores of New Zealand. Altho some countries also have some but are a different species of Abalone. It has an outer greyish 'shell' which once removed, shows these gorgeous colours.Fishermen are allowed 10 paua per person per day.It's illegal to dive for paua using scuba equipment. There's a huge market for the meat in the shells, but illegal to export, but hard to enforce. The native Maori people use the shells for their traditions.The shell is used a lot for jewelry. . The Xena TV series was filmed in New Zealand, and she used the shell as jewelry. I got my shell as a gift from a friend who lives in NZ. It's for sure my loveliest treasured seashell. I also have a beautiful silver ring with a Paua shell insert.