Latest updates


Recreational fishers welcome Minister’s conservative fisheries decisions

October 1, 2021 New commercial catch limits applying from October 1 show a considered, conservative approach by Minister David Parker to protecting fish. LegaSea Lead, Sam Woolford said: “A record number, more than 10,000 people sent in submissions to Fisheries Minister David Parker for this year’s fishing sustainability review. We are encouraged that people are starting to understand […]

LegaSea newsletter #112 – The public’s voice makes a difference

September 28, 2021 We spoke up and the Minister listened. Last week David Parker, the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, acknowledged the receipt of over 10,000 submissions in response to the recent reviews. If you were one of the submitters, Minister Parker and our future generations say thanks.

What next for scallops?

September 24, 2021 Hauraki Gulf communities are abuzz with the news that Ngāti Hei has successfully implemented a rāhui, a 2-year temporary closure to all scallop fishing from within their rohe on the eastern Coromandel coast. This will help protect the seabed and restore depleted scallop stocks. Ministerial approval for this rāhui was announced on 8 September and […]

Mediocrity not good enough for the Hauraki Gulf

September 24, 2021 In 2002 researchers surveying the Hauraki Gulf estimated only 24 tonnes of gurnard remained in Gulf waters. Since then there has been a succession of Hauraki Gulf Forum reports documenting continual decline of fish stocks and marine biodiversity. A crisis is looming yet there is no effective response from local or national government. The Hauraki […]

10,000 people stand up for conservation

September 16, 2021 More than 10,000 people put their name to supporting our recent submissions to the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries calling for more conservative management of our precious marine environment. Many of these people are frustrated that the Minister still permits environmentally destructive acts such as dragging weighted chains and box dredges across seafloor habitats. Bottom […]

LegaSea newsletter #111 – Coromandel scallop closure a win for the people

September 9, 2021 Yesterday the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, David Parker, approved a rāhui or temporary closure of the scallop fishery off the east Coromandel coast, following a request by Ngāti Hei in February this year. The closure means no scallop harvesting by commercial, recreational and customary fishers for two years, from this Saturday September 11.

Harvesting ban welcomed but fears remain

September 8, 2021 Groups that worked to save Coromandel scallop beds are delighted with David Parker’s decision to endorse the regional rāhui on scallops. But, at the same time, are concerned commercial fishers will now desecrate the already threatened scallop beds off Omaha, Great Barrier and Little Barrier. Ngāti Hei kaitiaki, Joe Davis welcomed the decision to ban […]

We’re hiring: Kai Ika Operations Leading Hand

August 26, 2021 We are looking for someone to join our team in a full time position as the Kai Ika Operations Leading Hand. Someone motivated to help us manage this rapidly growing initiative. You will be responsible for overseeing the day to day operations across our multiple fish filleting sites. This includes managing the roster, recruiting filleters, […]

Dragging the chain on ecosystem management

August 26, 2021 Bottom trawling, the act of dragging chains across the seabed, has an adverse effect on the marine environment. In our most recent submissions responding to government fisheries proposals we have emphasised the need for the Minister to take those adverse effects into account by setting lower catch limits for fish species taken mainly by trawling. […]

Growing support to ban dredging

August 24, 2021 Support for our collective efforts to get rid of scallop dredging from New Zealand’s inshore waters is growing. It’s strange then that the government has come out with a plan to ban all recreational scallop dredging from the Hauraki Gulf yet allow commercial fishers to continue using the Victorian Box Dredge to gather scallops. This […]