Latest updates


Pressure on Crayfish set to rise in Hauraki Gulf and Bay of Plenty

January 23, 2025 Media Release A new proposal to increase commercial crayfish catch limits threatens to deplete already dangerously low crayfish populations in significant coastal areas of east Northland and the Hauraki Gulf. Fisheries NZ is looking to increase commercial catch limits on the northeast coast of New Zealand between Te Arai Point and East Cape, an area […]

LegaSea newsletter #156 – Brand new year, still the same old crap

January 22, 2025 We hope you’re feeling recharged after the summer break because we’ll need every ounce of energy to tackle what may be the most shocking example of regulatory capture by the commercial fishing industry yet. Right now, we’re staring down the grim reality of a proposed commercial catch increase in CRA 2 (Te Arai Point down […]

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure

January 20, 2025 Sharing is caring and now sharing can contribute towards conservation. Sharing the unwanted parts from your freshly caught fish is one of the easiest ways to help restore our inshore fish populations. It’s simple. If we make better use of what we catch, we can catch fewer fish while still feeding our friends and families. […]

Another Christmas with no scallops

December 30, 2024 What does a Highly Protected Area and a closed scallop fishery have in common? Both signal that New Zealand’s fisheries management is failing, and you are paying the price for that failure. The consequences of poor management are restrictions on your ability to catch scallops or fish for your family. In our last two articles […]

LegaSea newsletter #155 – A tribute to fish, fishing and friends

December 18, 2024 There’s something about fishing that just feels good for the soul. Whether it’s a day spent drifting quietly on still waters, casting your line past the breakers on the beach, or heading out wide with your closest mates, it offers a gentle reprieve from the relentless buzz of everyday life. For so many of us […]

Free Fish Heads is back!

December 10, 2024 We’re pleased to announce the release of the new Free Fish Heads app. Get it now on Google Play and the App Store. Experience the true spirit of community and sustainability with the Free Fish Heads app. We’re on a mission to connect local New Zealand fishers with seafood lovers eager to enjoy the often-overlooked parts of the […]

Tell us About your Experiences with Baitfish

November 26, 2024 If you spend time on or near the water, we want to know if you have seen changes in the availability or occurrence of baitfish. Please let us know your experiences in this survey.

Black Friday – The Stinking Rot of the QMS

November 26, 2024 As we approach yet another Black Friday, a day consumed by the noise of commerce and the allure of fleeting bargains, there lies a darker shadow that we cannot afford to ignore. This is not the shadow cast by towering stacks of discounted goods but a profound and pervasive darkness seeping into the very foundation […]

LegaSea Newsletter #154 – Make Black Friday count

November 22, 2024 As Black Friday approaches, the buzz of deals and discounts fills the air, but beneath the surface, another kind of blackness is spreading – one that threatens the very lifeblood of New Zealand’s identity: our oceans. The Quota Management System (QMS), once seen as a beacon of sustainable fishing, has devolved into a mechanism prioritising […]