Latest updates


A chance to remove trawling from the Hauraki Gulf

March 3, 2017 A new initiative to restore abundance and diversity in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park was presented in early December. The Sea Change Tai Timu Tai Pari, Marine Spatial Plan is the result of three years of collaboration by a wide range of stakeholders from within the Marine Park. This bold new plan proposes the complete […]

Mismanagement of crayfish continues

March 3, 2017 LegaSea has responded to the Ministry for Primary Industries’ annual review of rock lobster sustainability measures. The MPI discussion paper proposed the following changes to the Total Allowable Commercial Catch from April 1st this year: 9% decrease to the commercial catch level in CRA3 (East Cape, Gisborne) 23% or 27% reduction to the commercial catch […]

RMA appeal

February 28, 2017 In December 2016 the Environment Court made a landmark ruling over the right to make fisheries restrictions through the Resource Management Act (RMA). After the MV Rena ran aground on Astrolade Reef in 2011, spilling oil, the Bay of Plenty community, hapu and iwi raised their concerns about the risks to the local environment. They […]

Subscriber booklet

February 28, 2017 At LegaSea we often hear, “You guys are doing an amazing job, what can I do to help?” Until now, we haven’t had a decent answer. Now we have. We would like to take this opportunity to explain how you can make a real difference to our future fishing prospects: You can become a LegaSea […]

FishCare

February 28, 2017 As recreational fishers become more environmentally aware there is a growing willingness and desire to fish more sustainably. The ability to go out and catch a reasonable feed and enjoy some time on the water with friends and family is precious to many of us, no one wants to lose this. Due to this we […]

MPI cut fisheries observers

February 22, 2017 As part of the Ministry for Primary Industries’ (MPI) newly proposed initiative, Future of our Fisheries (FOOF), video surveillance is planned to be installed on all commercial fishing vessels. The east coast North Island snapper fishery (SNA 1) was chosen as a trial for these cameras. Somewhat prematurely, MPI has decided that this means it […]

Crayfish mismanagement needs to be urgently addressed

February 14, 2017 LegaSea and the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council have responded strongly to proposals from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) relating to the future management of three rock lobster fisheries around the coast from East Cape to Wellington and up to Foxton, and Otago in the south. Unfortunately, MPI wants to allow increased commercial fishing […]

Planning for an abundant Hauraki Gulf Marine Park

February 9, 2017 On 6th December, the SeaChange Tai Timu Tai Pari, Marine Spatial Plan for the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park was presented for public review. This three-year planning process is a collaboration by representatives of a wide range of stakeholders from within the Marine Park and its catchments. The principal organisations behind the planning process, Auckland Council […]

Back to the future in fisheries

February 9, 2017 As we fish through another summer of mixed success we’ve had lots of time to think about our fisheries and wonder how we’ve got it so wrong. Our fishing is not the same as what our forefathers had and it’s pretty scary to think what we have to pass onto our next generations. Thankfully the […]

What does “world-leading” mean?

January 18, 2017 “New Zealand has a world-leading quota management system”. A line the people of New Zealand hear all too often. Usually in response to a cry from the public about how something has gone amiss in our fisheries. But let’s stop and think about this. Firstly, for arguments sake, let’s say we are “world leading”. Why […]