Latest updates


Reel Questions, with Grant Dixon

April 16, 2020 Reel Questions is a commentary series providing an insight to the opinions and experiences of individuals who have ties with our fish life and marine environment whether it be their livelihood, playground, creative influence, culture or simply a part of their lives. They all have a varied relationship with our coast and fish. We ask ... Read more.

Depletion forces closure in Bay of Islands

March 27, 2020 Locals in the northern Bay of Islands have succeeded in getting legal protection for mussels around the Black Rocks and out to the Ninepin. The Minister of Fisheries Stuart Nash has approved a bylaw that prohibits anyone taking green-lipped, blue and black mussels from within the Te Puna Mataitai, from March 23rd, 2020. The bylaw ... Read more.

Let’s be more careful with our crayfish

March 20, 2020 If diamonds are a girl’s best friend then crayfish must be a diver’s best friend. And no matter where you go around the country crayfish is a significant species for environmental, customary, recreational and commercial fishing interests. Recently our fisheries team submitted in response to proposals for the future management of crayfish in Northland, Gisborne, ... Read more.

Update on Motiti, RMA fishing controls, and the NZSFC response

March 19, 2020 Recent court decisions concerning waters around Motiti Island have surprised the recreational fishing public. The Court has essentially approved the ability for regional council’s to control fishing under the Resource Management Act (RMA). These decisions mean that there is potential for the closure of fishing areas in the Territorial Sea all around New Zealand. The ... Read more.

Fishcare – Looking after your fish

March 19, 2020 Sustainable inshore commercial longliner, Gavin Perry, demonstrates the principles of Iki Jime and how it is done in a commercial environment.  

Combating crayfish poaching

March 10, 2020 Poaching of fish is not new, it goes back centuries. In old England landlords refused to allow starving peasants to fish in the rivers and streams running through their properties. The peasants took their chances under the cover of darkness if they wanted to feed their family fish. Nowadays poaching operations are a lot more ... Read more.

Crayfish. How low can we go?

February 28, 2020 In just two generations we have managed to pillage our crayfish stocks to such historic low levels that in many areas there are few, if any, left for locals to enjoy. Taking more than 80 per cent of the original crayfish stock size then sustaining it at that low level is inviting disaster, by altering ... Read more.

Don’t get caught out on April Fool’s Day – UPDATED

February 25, 2020 UPDATE 2: Rules applying to recreational catch of rock lobster in CRA2 have changed as of 1 July 2020. We await information from Fisheries New Zealand and will advise details when these are available. UPDATE: MPI has advised LegaSea that the decision to change the crayfish bag limits in CRA2 not yet been ratified by ... Read more.

How much do we catch?

February 17, 2020 Snapper, kahawai and blue cod are the most popular saltwater finfish caught and kept by recreational fishers in New Zealand. As you would expect, snapper is the most common fish taken, representing nearly half of the national finfish landings. We now have two reliable surveys of recreational harvest using the same methods so the results ... Read more.