None of us had a say in it yet the Coalition agreement has become the excuse to drive radical change. Even in the face of overwhelming public opposition.
In terms of fisheries, the Coalition agreement reads –
“Deliver longer durations for marine farming permits and remove regulations that impede the productivity and enormous potential of the seafood sector.”
The Government has been hard at work fulfilling this agreement. Legislation enabling longer aquaculture permits was approved and effective from 3 September last year. Our joint submission in response to the proposed extension came from the largest bodies representing recreational marine users in Aotearoa.
Our five recommendations to the Primary Production Select Committee and attendance at hearings were ignored in favour of commercial interests. As becoming par for this government.
Tama Potaka, the Minister for Conservation, recently defended the government’s decision to allow commercial fishing in High Protection Areas in the Hauraki Gulf, by saying it was “just a part of coalition politics”.
In two areas of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park the public can no longer fish, meanwhile a handful of commercial operators can. These areas around Kawau and Motutapu Islands are popular, safe places to take the kids fishing. Public fishing is now excluded.
On the one hand the government is arguing ring (gill) netting is okay in a marine protected area but the public cannot be trusted to take home a fish for dinner.
It’s hard to see how this decision to enact the Hauraki Gulf Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Act 2025 unlocks the ‘enormous potential of the seafood sector’.
It has unleashed a backlash from the public who want a serious change in attitude from the Coalition government.
Recent Horizon polling shows 70 percent of New Zealanders, that’s over 2.7 million adults, support fisheries reform ‘to ensure there is an abundant fishery’.
What have we got instead?
A steady stream of changes based on a wishlist designed behind closed doors by New Zealand’s seafood industry leaders, and supported by officials and a friendly Minister for Oceans and Fisheries Shane Jones.
Shane Jones is a self confessed apostle of industry.
Between the industry, officials and the Minister, their first objective was to change the Fisheries Act to remove the guardrails protecting our fish and marine waters from excessive exploitation. That gives owners of fish quota more opportunity to push for higher catches when a more conservative approach is required. If this succeeds, the public and our fish will be the losers.
We are expecting Shane Jones to drop a draft Bill filled with more of these daunting proposals before the end of this year. And when they do, we need to be ready to fight for the ability to catch a feed for us, and our future generations.
The benefits for quota owners doesn’t stop there. Hot off the press, Fisheries NZ have just announced another 19 proposals including allowing the capture and sale of fish species that are currently safe from commercial exploitation.
Public submissions are due by 28 November 2025. LegaSea and the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council will also be submitting in response.
The tenuous nature of the Coalition means we can expect the government to push for more radical changes before the 2026 election..
Quota owners don’t just want their slice of the fish pie, they want it all, and they will take ours if we let them. And if the Minister changes the rules.
If ever there was a time to stand together to protect our collective interests in the marine environment, now is it. Sign up to LegaSea to stay informed and have your say on important matters. Your kids will thank you for it.
