Growing up with the Manukau Harbour as his backyard, Sam's earliest fishing memories were of rowing a wooden clinker across Blockhouse Bay catching kahawai on spinners. From here, his passion for the ocean grew. As a qualified dive instructor; summers were spent fishing, diving, delivering boats up and down the country and working on yachts in New Caledonia. After returning from a 5-year hiatus in Europe, the noticeable decline in the health of our coastal fisheries spurred a desire to get involved. “I want future generations to grow up enjoying similar experiences as we did when kids". Sam has a Marketing and IT background and is a qualified CIMA accountant.

Trish is a professional and experienced advocate, and has more than a decade of fisheries management experience. She has worked on issues from sustainability reviews to policy management to public rights, and is extremely dynamic in her ability to spread information and increase public awareness. Naturally, she brings an extensive network of well-developed, positive working relationships with recreational fishing, tangata whenua and environmental interest groups. Growing up in a Samoan family Trish knows in her bones that Polynesians are hard-wired to eat kaimoana so she does her best to ensure all Kiwis have access to good, healthy food from the sea.

Simon’s father handed him his first fishing rod at the age of five. From that moment on fishing for him became far more than just a means to an end. It influenced where he lived, where he holidayed, who is best mates were, his skill development in boating, tackle management and preparing kai moana. It helped shape his proud kiwi heritage. Simon has a substantial and award winning sporting, sponsorship, promotional marketing and advertising background. An extremely creative and strategic thinker he can help make LegaSea supporters not just leaders but heroes of the future. "I can’t stand by and watch the destruction of our kiwi lifestyle so that a few fellow kiwis can selfishly manage our fishery into a desert for their own short term gain. I want to pass on the life rewarding opportunity that fishing provides, not just a bunch of old photos and bedtime stories of how it once was. This vision cannot be achieved alone. We need every kiwi to play their part. It’s the responsibility of us all”

Dallas has extensive experience in marine conservation, particularly in scientific research and education. Upon completion of a bachelor's degree in Marine Science and Management, he pursued a career in education through becoming a Naturalist guide on the Great Barrier Reef and at Sydney’s sea life aquarium, sharing knowledge with the public. He then moved to New Zealand and became a Fisheries Observer with the Ministry for Primary Industries and logged in excess of 350 days at sea over a 2.5 year period. All of this experience has allowed Dallas to excel in advocating for sustainable fisheries in an informative and educational capacity.

Jessica’s passion for the ocean was fostered from a childhood of summers exploring the coastal waters at Mangawhai. It often included putting together her own tackle box and fishing for kahawai and snapper in the estuary. Now, she is committed to sharing these experiences with her own young family.  Jessica's strong business acumen resulted in her holding senior roles in a number of multinational organisations. With a desire to use her professional experience for good, she left the corporate world choosing to specialise in grant funding and project administration for not-for-profits. Add an overt desire to ensuring our fisheries are managed in a sustainable manner and working with LegaSea became a fait accompli.

Benn’s extensive background working in digital communications has brought essential skills to LegaSea. After running his own communications agency for many years, Benn followed his heart to work in an area he truly cares about with a mission to make a real difference.  Also a keen cook, his favourite things to do in the world is catch, prepare, cook and eat kaimoana and with as much variety and in as many different ways as possible.

Having spent a large portion of her life in Cairns where the Daintree meets the Great Barrier Reef, Sydney had unlimited access to the very best of nature. Frustrated about the effects people were having on the environment, Sydney decided to return home to turn her passion into a career and now has a BSc in environmental science and applied conservation from AUT.

Murray is passionate about working with a great organisation to protect our inshore fishery for our people, our communities and for future generations. As a kid growing up in Northland, he spent hours on wharves catching sprats (thanks for your patience, Mum). "Had some amazing experiences fishing with my grandfather and father. We could catch a few Kahawai on the way for a fish with a white piece of cloth on a hook. That was bait for the day. Time out at sea with friends and family is the ultimate Kiwi Experience for me. But we have dropped the ball on our watch. We must leave this fishery in as good a place as we found it and currently, we are failing to do this. Bottom trawling and dredging in our inshore fishery are unacceptable behaviour nowadays and has to stop. We know what the problems are, and we know how to solve them. All we lack currently is unified action. So come on New Zealanders, get behind us at LegaSea and make a difference

Scott Macindoe is the backbone of LegaSea.  His passion is to make certain that the Vision of 'more fish in the water for future generations' is not something that we just talk about – he wants it to become our REALITY. He is an active environmentalist, a good fisherman, a talented networker, a successful businessman, a green-fingered gardener & a loving family man.  His mind is often miles ahead of the others in the room – it is his clarity, insightfulness and ability to think laterally that are his real diamonds. Scott is totally clear that we can successfully create an organised, professional and respected group that does a fantastic job to represent the interests of all New Zealanders.  He is all about working positively Together, witnessed by his efforts to connect recreational fishers with tangata whenua and environmental groups around New Zealand.  Scott believes success will be achieved together by understanding & respecting each other’s aspirations and needs. His energy is infectious and his passions are inspiring. Call Scott on (021) 622463 or email [email protected].