Latest updates


Ministerial discretion must be retained

January 5, 2018 When LegaSea was first invited to have input into The Future Catch project by Dr Randall Bess we were excited because the project was described as a well funded study to improve recreational fishing. It didn’t take long to realise that this was yet another attempt to upgrade commercial rights to our fisheries and remove […]

Chasing our dreams brings rewards

December 31, 2017 As we close in on another year of fishing LegaSea is celebrating that in 2017 we have collectively spent about one billion dollars chasing our dreams. This recreational activity generated over one and a half billion dollars of economic activity in New Zealand. This is big bucks when you consider we take less than 3% […]

Privatisation means licensing

November 29, 2017 After 30 years of neoliberal free-market policies there are few public resources left that we can call our own, fresh water and fisheries are two that are currently under threat. Privatisation of freshwater aquifers for minimal returns has been one of 2017’s hot topics. The conversation around further privatisation of New Zealand’s saltwater fisheries has […]

Seagrass hides hidden treasures

November 24, 2017 For a long time we suspected that seagrass meadows were important to the life-cycle of fish, we just didn’t know how significant. A large-scale survey across New Zealand found regional differences in the species and numbers of juvenile fish hiding in amongst the seagrass beds. Undoubtedly further research will reveal more secrets over time. What […]

Appointment of new Minister signals a brighter future for all

November 23, 2017 LegaSea welcomes the new government’s decision to appoint Stuart Nash as Minister of Fisheries, the first step in breaking apart the monolith that is the Ministry for Primary Industries. All the signals so far point to a fresh approach to fisheries management, more meaningful engagement and potentially the inclusion of recreational interests in future decision-making […]

Sharing is conservation

November 14, 2017 A pilot scheme involving an Auckland boating club and local marae is drawing widespread acclaim for its conservation gains and the coming together of people from different walks of life. The joint project is underpinned by principles of sharing and caring for our environment and each other, and could easily be replicated in other parts […]

NIWA survey to count fish

October 28, 2017 Two important surveys are under way to measure harvest by marine recreational fishers. LegaSea encourages you to cooperate with the researchers if they phone you or approach you on the boat ramp. Over the next 12 months NIWA will be measuring and counting fish landed by recreational anglers at popular boat ramps. This large-scale survey […]

LegaSea Annual Report

October 27, 2017 LegaSea held its Annual General Meeting in mid-September and the presentation of the Annual Report was well received by over 100 attendees. It has been a year of growth and outreach for LegaSea. Outreach It is exciting and encouraging to have Yachting New Zealand and the New Zealand Underwater Association stepping up to support our […]

A grand donation humbles LegaSea

October 27, 2017 LegaSea was honoured to receive a thousand dollar donation from the Hauraki Gulf Sportfishing Club recently. This is a club of less than a hundred members, all of whom are committed to ensuring a better fishing experience in the future. Club representative Peter Stewart took the opportunity to hand the $1000 cheque over to the […]

FAQ – Why do we still fish in spawning season?

October 26, 2017 A question we hear every year Spawning success depends on a range of environmental factors ranging from the weather to water temperature or even just the currents. These factors can hugely influence the spawning success. Research indicates a season with warmer waters may increase the survival of these eggs and juvenile snapper by 10-20 times. […]