February 22, 2017
As part of the Ministry for Primary Industries’ (MPI) newly proposed initiative, Future of our Fisheries (FOOF), video surveillance is planned to be installed on all commercial fishing vessels. The east coast North Island snapper fishery (SNA 1) was chosen as a trial for these cameras. Somewhat prematurely, MPI has decided that this means it […]
February 14, 2017
LegaSea and the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council have responded strongly to proposals from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) relating to the future management of three rock lobster fisheries around the coast from East Cape to Wellington and up to Foxton, and Otago in the south. Unfortunately, MPI wants to allow increased commercial fishing […]
February 9, 2017
On 6th December, the SeaChange Tai Timu Tai Pari, Marine Spatial Plan for the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park was presented for public review. This three-year planning process is a collaboration by representatives of a wide range of stakeholders from within the Marine Park and its catchments. The principal organisations behind the planning process, Auckland Council […]
February 9, 2017
As we fish through another summer of mixed success we’ve had lots of time to think about our fisheries and wonder how we’ve got it so wrong. Our fishing is not the same as what our forefathers had and it’s pretty scary to think what we have to pass onto our next generations. Thankfully the […]
January 18, 2017
“New Zealand has a world-leading quota management system”. A line the people of New Zealand hear all too often. Usually in response to a cry from the public about how something has gone amiss in our fisheries. But let’s stop and think about this. Firstly, for arguments sake, let’s say we are “world leading”. Why […]
January 18, 2017
The sun hasn’t even peaked over the horizon, yet you find yourself rolling over to silence that obnoxious alarm. Exhausted from a restless night, plagued by anticipation of the day to come. Despite this you spring out of bed and slip into those old clothes tucked away in your bottom draw, that musty, fishy smell […]
December 23, 2016
On 11th November, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) announced their new programme, Future of Our Fisheries (FOOF). Consultation opened, requesting submissions and planning a number of meetings around the country. LegaSea believed this was the perfect opportunity to implement policy similar to that of “Moyle’s Promise”. Hon. Colin Moyle was Minister of Fisheries 1972-1977 […]
December 21, 2016
Snapper is the North Island’s favourite inshore species and are hotly pursued by both recreational and commercial fishers. The Bay of Plenty has sometimes been labelled ‘the Bay of Empty’ when fishing efforts have been consistently poor. The question many people ask themselves – is it over fishing and a result of poor fishery management […]
December 21, 2016
On the 23rd August, Trans-Tasman Resources Ltd (TTR) applied to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to obtain a permit to mine the seabed on the South Taranaki Bight. This application would give TTR permission to excavate 50 million tonnes of sediment from the seabed per year, for the next 35 years with 90% of it […]
December 6, 2016
In late September the Ministry for Primary Industries asked for public feedback on the health of the crayfish stock in the Gisborne area, officially referred to as CRA 3. There are mixed views on the stock status. Commercial interests, the Ministry, and scientists all advocate the fishery is in fine fettle. Meanwhile, for people around […]
