Articles

Are recreational fishing parks affordable?

February 12, 2016 A recreational fishing park has been proposed for both the Hauraki Gulf and Marlborough Sounds. It is important to examine this proposition to test if it is affordable and if it sets a precedent for the future. The Government has signaled it has around $20 million to pay compensation claims from displaced commercial fishing interests. […]

Are recreational fishing parks the answer?

February 11, 2016 A document discussing four types of Marine Protected Areas, including recreational fishing parks, has been released for consultation. This consultation process is a joint effort between the Ministers for Primary Industries, Conservation and Environment. Deadline for submission is March 11th, 2016. The New Zealand Sport Fishing Council team is working through the discussion document and […]

What is the value of recreational fishing?

September 24, 2015 In Australia, a recent study found recreational fishers contribute an estimated $2.56 billion to the nation’s economy. But what’s fishing worth in New Zealand? The truth is, no one knows. So the New Zealand Marine Research Foundation has commissioned a full-scale research project to find out. They want to know how much recreational fishers contribute […]

Doing our homework

September 1, 2015 Before we embark on a high value project to determine the significance of recreational fishing in New Zealand it’s important to do our homework. Similar overseas research by Southwick Associates has produced some positive outcomes for recreational fishing interests and their national economies. Southwick Associates has over 25 years international experience in examining the value […]

All hands to the pump

August 29, 2015 The “What’s Fishing Worth?” fundraising campaign is looking to produce more abundant fisheries, a thriving marine environment, and a robust recreational fishing industry. The campaign is raising funds for the New Zealand Marine Research Foundation’s recreational fishing research project. This project seeks to quantify the economic contributions per kilo of fish harvested by recreational fishers. […]

What’s fishing worth?

August 29, 2015 In Australia, a recent study found recreational fishers contribute an estimated $2.56 billion to the nation’s economy. But what’s fishing worth in New Zealand? The truth is, no one knows. So the New Zealand Marine Research Foundation has commissioned a full-scale research project to find out. They want to know how much recreational fishers contribute […]

Recreational perspective on shared fisheries and developing trust

August 19, 2015 Recreational perspective on shared fisheries and developing trust Address to the Seafood New Zealand Conference. Grant Dixon, Editor. New Zealand Fishing News magazine. Thank you for the opportunity to give my perspective on the fishery and building trust between industry and the public/recreational fishers. When Tim Pankhurst contacted me and explained the brief, I was a […]

Opportunity for Minister to win public support

July 29, 2015 Blue cod is an iconic Marlborough Sounds fishery so any mention of management changes evokes a raft of claims and counter-claims. LegaSea is pleased to have recently worked on a submission with four other national or local groups to promote an abundant fishery and improvements to regulations applying to both commercial and recreational blue cod […]

Is this a new era?

July 28, 2015 A draft management plan for the northeastern snapper stock is underway and expected to be with the Minister, Nathan Guy, later this year. 18 months of hard work has brought us to this point. It is unclear when the Minister will release the management plan for public discussion. However, recreational interests are keen to get […]

Encouraging prospects for gamefishing

July 26, 2015 New Zealand is fast becoming world renowned for trophy sized kingfish and lots of them. This is no accident. Management changes a decade ago, Mother Nature and the care shown by recreational fishers who release much of their kingfish catch have all contributed to the stock rebuild. Annual monitoring of kingfish length during the Bay […]