Latest updates


Good times and mates go together

April 6, 2019 Cyclones are a regular feature of summers in Aotearoa, and while we haven’t experienced a direct hit this summer many events have been affected by activity in the Pacific. One of those events was the long-standing Fanatical Fishos fishing tournament organised by Chesters Plumbing and Bathroom Centre in New Lynn, Auckland. As the forecasters were […]

Fatal flaws in MPI plans

March 29, 2019 In February the Ministry for Primary Industries held a series of public meetings to discuss their latest proposals for the future management of commercial fishing. The Fisheries Change Programme is being welcomed by large quota owners who clearly expect the Minister to increase catch limits. However, if the proposals are pushed through commercial fishers on […]

You cannot be serious

March 28, 2019 In February the Ministry for Primary Industries issued a discussion paper Your fisheries – your say that proposed a range of measures to “simplify” the rules around discarding fish from commercial vessels. These included removing the minimum legal size limits for most species, paving the way for a land-all catch policy for commercial vessels and […]

Digital Comms Supernova

March 27, 2019 Are you concerned about the degradation of our marine environment? Conservation is all about shifting people’s expectations, attitudes, behaviours and beliefs. At LegaSea, we’re leading the charge and we’re looking for a Digital Comms Supernova with a major sprinkling of website and CRM management experience.  A passion for our marine environment is vital. We are […]

Dead fish tell no lies

March 15, 2019 In early February the Minister Stuart Nash released proposals to incentivise good fishing practices and provide better information. Feedback to Ministry on the ‘Fisheries Change Programme’ is required by mid-March. On the surface the proposals seem okay, but when you pull up the blankets there are loopholes for commercial interests to slide through with no […]

No alibi for depleted crayfish stocks

March 8, 2019 Crayfish are an important species in the marine ecosystem so when we hear stories from experienced divers in the eastern Bay of Plenty who have only taken three crays in two years it’s pretty scary for all of us. Over January and February we worked with Spearfishing New Zealand to develop a submission responding to […]

Fiddling in the margins of reality

March 3, 2019 Stuart Nash the Minister of Fisheries has issued the ‘Fisheries Change Programme’ to tweak the way commercial fishing is managed. He awaits public feedback by mid-March. Meanwhile, we wait for meaningful changes that will rebuild abundance in our fisheries and restore the health of our marine environment. Fiddling around the margins of a broken Quota […]

Industrial fishing depletes the Bay of Empty

February 28, 2019 The governance of our marine fisheries is under increasing scrutiny because maintaining highly productive ecosystems has given way to transactional advocacy targeting every possible fish that can be justified. Local depletion and inter-tidal reefs stripped bare sees coastal communities and Kaitiaki [guardians] crying out for effective restraints. Clearly the current system is not working and […]

Investing in our kids and country

February 27, 2019 The world of fisheries management, research and advocacy has become increasingly complex. So, it’s encouraging for LegaSea and our parent body the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council that there is a growing number of organisations willing to step up and help resource the necessary work. In the past year LegaSea has worked on five new […]

Hawke’s Bay stalwarts stepping aside

February 26, 2019 Toby and Venita Simcox have been at the forefront of LegaSea Hawke’s Bay since its inception in 2014. They are your typical volunteers, willing to take on any task that needed doing just to get the job done and make it better for everyone else. They remain passionate about the cause, but after five year’s […]