Paua will be back on people's plates in Kaikōura as their fishery reopens next month.
It comes five years after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake changed the coastal town's landscape forever, significantly impacting marine life.
Twenty-five percent of the paua fishery was lost when the seabed was thrust up, leaving their habitat exposed. Divers desperately tried to save the population.
David Rae, a director of the Paua Industry Council who's been diving commercially in the area for the last three decades, helped survey the devastation in the days immediately after.
"I stayed in the water looking at all the ones that were still alive checking they were OK," he said.
Many weren't.
"[It was] almost like the water turned soupy, and you can even taste it through your snorkel."
The fishery was closed as a precautionary measure.
"It was devastating for a lot of our community because this is our kitchen," said Chevelli Allen, kaihautū of Te Runanga o Kaikōura.
A community-led recovery programme over the past five years has helped the paua population recover, but some are weary about lifting the ban.
"How respectful are other people are going to be, because it's been closed for five years - stick to what's offered," said Allen.
The fishery will reopen on a trial basis for three months. the daily catch limit has been reduced from six to five paua per person, and the Ministry for Primary Industries will be heavily policing this, bringing in extra staff from around the South Island.
But it's hoped the shellfish will help bring visitors back to a region still finding its feet.
"People come and stay in the town and they'll shop at the supermarket and they'll got to restaurants and bars and shop in the town - a great thing for Kaikōura," said retailer Anton Evans.
And a great thing for seafood lovers.
