Thanks to Minister Shane Jones and YOU, our oceans are firmly on the political agenda this year.

Last election only one party had a dedicated fisheries policy. That has changed in 2026.

In August, LegaSea sent all the major parties a list of policy statements asking them where they stand in terms of restoring abundance in our marine waters. Their answers are mixed.

We’ve collated their responses into a simple policy table so you can see what your party is supporting in terms of banning trawling inshore and reforming the quota management system. If you want to dive deeper, there’s more detail online here.

Not all parties have responded yet, and not all parties will have a fisheries policy. But with huge public interest and mass support for Kill the Bill, we’ll keep updating the table as answers arrive.

LegaSea is non-partisan. We won’t tell you who to vote for, everyone’s priorities are different.

We’re here to give you the latest info so you can make an informed decision and back the party that best fits your needs and your vision for marine abundance. 🌊🐟

Below are full responses we received from major political parties in response to LegaSea’s Policy Statements.

Act

1. New Zealand fish stocks will be managed to a minimum biomass target of 50% of unfished biomass (B50) or the equivalent abundance that restores ecosystem function.
ACT supports progressively managing important fish stocks at higher levels than the current maximum-sustainable-yield approach. Higher abundance provides better recreational fishing, more efficient commercial fishing, and greater resilience when environmental conditions or scientific estimates change. We favour management settings that reflect the circumstances of individual fisheries while aiming for substantially greater abundance.

2. No support for the Fisheries Amendment Bill 2026.
ACT does not support the Bill in its current form.

3. Public fishing must remain outside the Quota Management System and any fixed catch-share regime.
ACT strongly supports recreational fishing and wants New Zealanders to have better opportunities to catch fish for themselves and their families. Our policy does not propose bringing recreational fishing into the QMS. Our focus is on increasing overall abundance so recreational and commercial fishers both benefit.

4. No licensing of recreational fishers
ACT does not support licensing of recreational fishers.

5. Reform fisheries management to restore marine abundance and use Resource Rental returns from fishing to recognise Treaty and Settlement obligations to Māori.
ACT strongly supports reforming fisheries management to restore abundance.

6. Remove trawling, seining and dredging from the inshore zone.
We favour targeting genuine environmental harm. ACT would permanently end scallop dredging in scallop fisheries that are currently closed, require the costs imposed by high-impact fishing methods to be reflected through fisheries levies, and strengthen incentives to adopt lower-impact fishing technologies.

The Green Party

1. New Zealand fish stocks will be managed to a minimum biomass target of 50% of unfished biomass (B50) or the equivalent abundance that restores ecosystem function.
The Green Party supports managing fish stocks to a minimum biomass target of 50% of unfished biomass (B50) or the equivalent abundance that restores ecosystem function.

2. No support for the Fisheries Amendment Bill 2026.
The Green Party has opposed and will continue to oppose the Government’s Fisheries Amendment Bill.

3. Public fishing must remain outside the Quota Management System and any fixed catch-share regime.
The Green Party supports reviewing the Quota Management System while ensuring public fishing remains outside any fixed catch-share regime. We do not support recreational fishing rights being turned into tradeable, private property assets and we want to see the general public maintain a shared, non-commercial right to fish without needing to buy quota.

4. No licensing of recreational fishers
The Green Party supports ensure that recreational fishing regulations address cumulative and long-term ecological effects and avoid harm to protected species, this could include investigating recreational fishing licensing.

5. Reform fisheries management to restore marine abundance and use Resource Rental returns from fishing to recognise Treaty and Settlement obligations to Māori.
The Green Party supports reforming our fisheries management to restore marine abundance and use Resource Rental returns from fishing to recognise Treaty and Settlement obligations to Māori.

6. Remove trawling, seining and dredging from the inshore zone.
The Green Party supports phasing out all destructive fishing methods including removing trawling, seining and dredging from the inshore zone.

Labour

1. New Zealand fish stocks will be managed to a minimum biomass target of 50% of unfished biomass (B50) or the equivalent abundance that restores ecosystem function.
Response: Labour supports science-based fisheries management that ensures abundant and healthy fish stocks for future generations. We recognise the importance of maintaining fish populations at levels that support both sustainable harvesting and healthy marine ecosystems. Any changes to biomass targets should be informed by robust scientific evidence and designed to restore ecosystem health while providing certainty for recreational, customary, and commercial users.

2. No support for the Fisheries Amendment Bill 2026.
Response: Labour does not support the current Fisheries Amendment Bill. We have consistently raised concerns about provisions that reduce transparency, weaken environmental safeguards, and undermine public confidence in fisheries management. Labour will discharge the Bill if elected.

3. Public fishing must remain outside the Quota Management System and any fixed catch-share regime.
Response: Labour supports ongoing public access to recreational fishing and recognises its social, cultural, and economic importance to New Zealanders. We support ensuring recreational and customary fishing interests are appropriately recognised within fisheries management decisions and believe any allocation decisions should be transparent, evidence-based, and reflect the public interest.

4. No licensing of recreational fishers.
Response: Labour has no plans to introduce a recreational fishing licence. Any future proposals affecting recreational fishers would require extensive consultation and a clear demonstration that they improve fisheries management outcomes. Recreational fishing is an important part of New Zealand’s way of life, and policy should support continued public access while ensuring sustainability of fish stocks.

5. Reform fisheries management to restore marine abundance and use Resource Rental returns from fishing to recognise Treaty and Settlement obligations to Māori.
Response: Labour supports ongoing reform of fisheries management to improve sustainability, transparency, and public confidence in the system. We recognise Treaty obligations and the importance of Māori participation in fisheries management. Future policy settings should ensure fisheries resources are managed for long-term abundance and deliver benefits to all New Zealanders while honouring settlement commitments and partnership obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

6. Remove trawling, seining and dredging from the inshore zone.
Response: Labour supports stronger protections for sensitive marine habitats and reducing the environmental impacts of fishing practices where evidence shows significant harm. We believe fisheries management should be guided by science and should target protection of vulnerable ecosystems while supporting sustainable fishing communities. We are open to further restrictions on destructive fishing methods in areas where they threaten marine habitats and biodiversity.

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We have not had a direct response from NZ First, Opportunity, Te Pati Māori or National. We will update this page when we do.