Coromandel scallops are off the menu this xmas and for the entire summer infact after the government rushed in an emergency ban.

A section of the fishery was closed earlier this year - now camera footage has shown a significant decline in the shellfish across the remaining open area.

Minister of Oceans and Fisheries David Parker says the emergency measure is rarely used but monitoring results paint a dire picture.

LegaSea program lead Sam Woolford talks to Lisa Owen.