Latest updates


Let the camera roll-out begin

May 27, 2022 In May 2022, the Government confirmed details of the roll-out of cameras onboard commercial fishing vessels. Details include a timeline and restrictions around what vessels have cameras, with the roll-out beginning and West Coast North Island inshore trawl and set net video footage becoming available from 30 November 2022. While it’s awesome to see a […]

LegaSea newsletter #121 – The people’s fish

May 27, 2022 With snapper season wrapping up and bluefin tuna marking the start of the cold season, it’s apt to think we would be slowing down into a steady pace for a while.  Well, that is not the case, with our team busier than ever preparing for upcoming campaigns, submissions, and events. Keep your eyes and ears […]

LegaSea newsletter # 120 – It’s show time!

May 6, 2022 Sailing into May is always an elevating time for us – we get our big opportunity to talk to you face to face at the Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show. We’ve got a lot to share and discuss this year. It’s been a massive year for scallops, hāpuku & bass, and community initiatives, and we […]

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. […]