Kaikoura's lobster fishery to reopen next week

The crayfish fishery on the east coast of the South Island will reopen next week.

The fishery was temporarily closed on November 21 to allow officials to assess the impact of the Kaikoura earthquake of sea life.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy said the survey showed the crayfish fishery, worth about $23 million a year, had come through in "relatively good shape".

"This has given me enough confidence to officially reopen the fishery for all sectors - recreational, commercial and customary."

The crayfish ban will lift at 5pm on Tuesday but remains in place for shellfish and seaweed species, excluding scampi, until February 20.

"There is still more work to be done in assessing the impact on paua, but it's clear there has been a major impact in some areas," Guy said. "We have scientific work under way and will be working on a plan to give this important fishery the best opportunity to recover."

Guy said MPI would put more fishery officers on the Kaikoura coast and he encouraged people to only take what is allowed.