The New Zealand Sport Fishing Council is an incorporated society established in 1959. The Council has 55 clubs with 36,200 affiliated members nationwide. A key role of the Council is to advocate for responsible and sustainable management of New Zealand’s marine resources. To achieve its goals the Council funds education initiatives, commissions and funds relevant research projects, and participates in and contributes to fisheries management decisions.

The Council established LegaSea in 2012 as a public awareness entity, to reach a wider audience and elevate public awareness of the work being done to protect and enhance the marine environment.