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Whale of a tale: Why marine mammal parts can't be sold
It’s against our rules and the law to sell whale parts (or any marine mammal parts) on Trade Me.
By Trust and Safety 23 June 2025A recent member experience is a good reminder for everyone on Trade Me about our rules for protected wildlife, and the laws that sit behind them.
The member, an artist with the best intentions, purchased whale baleen to use for sketching. She was completely unaware that a special permit was legally required to possess it.
It’s not just a Trade Me rule, it’s the law of the land. Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, it is an offence to possess any part of a marine mammal without holding a specific permit. This legislation is in place because marine mammals and their remains are legally protected and may be considered taonga.
What you can't sell
To make sure members trade safe and legally, our rules are very clear. We do not allow the sale of certain animals or animal parts, including marine mammals.
Our Banned and restricted list states you can't list:
- Whales
- Sharks
- Dolphins
- Seals
- Sea lions
- Seahorses
- or parts thereof.
Listings for these items will be removed by our Trust and Safety team.
If you see a listing on our site that you believe is for a marine mammal part, report the listing through Community Watch on the bottom of the listing. We'll investigate and take the appropriate action.
Cover photo by Thomas Lipke on Unsplash.
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