The man who organised a guerilla effort to save the thousands of paua displaced during the Kaikoura quake is dismayed at the Ministry of Primary Industry's decision to force people to leave them alone.

Mike Vincent put a call out for help moving the shellfish, which were thrust upwards by the quake in some areas by about two metres, leaving them right out of the water and baking in the sun.

The MPI today put out a statement asking the public to refrain from trying to rescue the paua, saying that while they appreciated the efforts were well-intentioned, moving the paua could do more harm than good.

"Moving the surviving paua could kill them ... we’re asking everyone to hold fire on any paua rescue efforts for now.

“The fact is it’s too late to save the dead shellfish. Those that are still alive are more likely to survive if they are left alone.

"They will migrate themselves into deeper waters over time.

The Ministry said that paua need very careful handling as any cuts they receive from being moved could kill them due to being haemophiliacs.

Mr Vincent said Fisheries officers had come to Paia Point south of Kaikoura and told the 300 or so people gathered there to help that they had to stop immediately.

"It's gut wrenching ... I wanted to cry when he was telling me," Mr Vincent said.

"I fought for this because I believe in it.

"I can't fight against the bureaucrats that make the rules ... a decision has been made and I've got to respect that.

"I'm just a passionate person who loves diving and eating paua.

"The paua stocks are gonna be the ones that speak."

Mr Vincent rubbished the safety concerns in the statement, saying all volunteers had been issued with proper paua knives to avoid damage and briefed on how to safely and gently move the surviving shellfish.

"MPI haven't acted fast enough - we acted faster than what they did," he said.

"I've seen it first hand, Ive witnessed the mortality rate of the paua and they're going to continue dying."

He also had a message for Minister of Primary Industries Nathan Guy.

"Not one person at the top has come down to where we are, had a talk to me," Mr Vincent said.

"Nathan Guy - he hasn't even been here, mate.