One of LegaSea’s 5 Principles is to value recreational fishing. Our fishing supports a vast array of businesses, from charter boat operations, boat builders, tackle dealers, bait and ice suppliers and the assortment of fishing media.

Many coastal communities rely on the summer influx of tourists, including fishing families, to maintain their accommodation, fuel and goods supply businesses. It is irrefutable that recreational fishing adds value not only to our lifestyle but also to our communities and national wealth.

In 2013 Seafood New Zealand, the lead industry fishing organisation, submitted against the Minister adjusting the recreational allowance for snapper to meet current needs. Instead, they submitted, (in part) “we would note that the interests of New Zealand are better served by:

• The generation of export receipts rather than the high-value consumption of imported components;
• The need to ensure that available savings are channelled into productive investment and not wasteful consumption.

So what does this mean? We stop buying tackle and imported fishing gear? We stop building boats and outboards and seaside infrastructure? Forget about coastal communities who thrive during the summer months?

Not likely!

LegaSea is adamant, recreational fishing and the economy of our fishing activities is not “wasteful consumption”, it is pure gold, so we are working on ways to value our fishing and more importantly protect our kids’ fishing future.

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