Latest updates


Marine groups welcome smaller bag limits for recreational fishers

April 20, 2022 Media release April 20, 2022 Recreational fishers and marine conservationists are embracing revised bag limit rules for recreational fishers as a logical step toward sustainable fish populations. Under the revised rules, all finfish, except baitfish, including those with species limits like snapper, are now included in the daily recreational bag limit. This is a step […]

LegaSea newsletter #119 – Scallops are off the menu… almost

April 13, 2022 It’s been a hectic month with the recent closing of New Zealand’s last commercially viable scallop fisheries.   Minister Parker announced the closure alongside several other conservative decisions for the future management of important species. We’ve been busy analysing these closures and what they actually mean for more fish in the water. As always it’s a mixed […]

Bottom trawler found guilty of fishing in closed area: groups call for govt to deny new fishing permits 

March 9, 2022 Environmentalists and recreational fishing groups today heralded the guilty verdict delivered to a Talley’s-owned bottom trawler, the Amaltal Apollo, and its skipper, for illegally bottom trawling on seamounts in international waters.   The groups repeated their call for the government to ban the destructive fishing practice on seamounts , and to refuse to issue high seas […]

No more High Seas Permits for bottom trawling the South Pacific

March 8, 2022 Permits for New Zealand high seas bottom trawlers operating in the South Pacific are due for renewal in April. The New Zealand Government has previously issued permits to six bottom trawling vessels, all owned by companies with recent convictions for illegal fishing – and allowing them to trawl seamounts in international waters. New Zealand vessels […]

LegaSea newsletter #118 – Defending the deep from bottom trawling

March 8, 2022 Most New Zealanders consider themselves be part of an environmentally aware country that has limited impact on the world’s marine environment. So it is shocking to learn that New Zealand is currently the ONLY country bottom trawling seamounts in the international waters of the South Pacific.

Community backs up scallops

March 1, 2022 With scallop numbers in the Hauraki Gulf declining, support to protect the last remaining beds continues to grow. Many local organisations showed their support for a rāhui placed on all scallop harvesting by Ngāti Manuhiri down the east coast of North Auckland. The Ngāti Manuhiri rāhui area spans from Bream Tail down to Okura River […]

Inspiring the next generation

February 25, 2022 It’s 22 years since the government came out of hiding and into the public arena to snatch our fishing rights and interests. Thankfully there were a handful of people alert to the threats and two of them tower above them all, Paul Barnes and Bill Cooke. Paul and Bill were men of insight and principles. […]

Innovative solutions to restore crayfish numbers

February 20, 2022 When science and decision-making collide in the world of fisheries management, conservation is most often the loser. Fisheries New Zealand recently proposed a 5 to 15 percent cut to commercial catch limits in the northern crayfish fishery and catch increases in southern areas. LegaSea worked with our New Zealand Sport Fishing Council fisheries team and […]

LegaSea newsletter #117 – LegaSea turns 10

February 11, 2022 Today we turn 10. 10 years of building teams, capacity, confidence, and competence. 10 years of encouraging New Zealanders that healthy and productive coastal fisheries will be positive for everyone – environmentally, socially, and economically. Launched on the 9th February 2012, LegaSea was started as, and remained the public outreach and fundraising arm of the […]

Innovative solutions to restore crayfish numbers

February 9, 2022 When science and decision-making collide in the world of fisheries management, conservation is most often the loser. Fisheries New Zealand recently proposed a 5 to 15 percent cut to commercial catch limits in the northern crayfish fishery and catch increases in southern areas. LegaSea worked with our New Zealand Sport Fishing Council fisheries team and […]