Latest updates


Crayfish – anyone smell a rat?

February 1, 2014 In December the Ministry released proposals for management of crayfish in area 2 that runs from Waipu in the north to Waihi, Bay of Plenty. It’s an important fishery yet is the worst performing of the crayfish fisheries. I’m sure many of you have experienced first hand the effects of struggling stocks. Apart from the […]

Reflection on 2013

January 20, 2014 I’d like to reflect on some of the major positives for fisheries to come out of 2013. Groups with a common cause worked hard to strive for a better future, with dedicated support from people like you. Let’s start with tuna. Greenpeace had been fighting corporates for two years to stop FAD fishing for yellow […]

Turning the tide

January 10, 2014 Hard work by passionate advocates turned the tide on four iconic fish species in 2013. If you supported any of these causes you should feel proud, thank you. Yellowfin tuna stocks globally have retracted due to international commercial fishing pressure and Greenpeace led the charge campaigning to stop the sale of yellowfin tuna caught using […]

What’s next for snapper?

December 12, 2013 After the snapper decision, we reviewed hundreds of pages of Ministry reports and documents and we’ve planned our next steps to continue to improve the future of Snapper 1. Increased release mortality is one issue that will need to be addressed sooner rather than later, because as of 1st of April 2014 recreational fishers will […]

Snapper round up

December 1, 2013 Warm weather means more fishing, but in the Bay of Plenty there’s still concerns to be addressed for snapper. Stocks are classified as “collapsed” and so LegaSea will be calling for specific action to be taken in the Bay. This is one of a few focus areas for LegaSea as a result of Nathan Guy’s […]

Here’s to the fishers

November 29, 2013 One thing that has struck me in recent months is how people from all walks of life enjoy fishing. New Zealand is a wonderful melting pot of different cultures and people with varying backgrounds – but there is something wonderfully unifying in the form of a fishing rod. During the recent Save Our Snapper campaign […]

No sign of greedy recreational fishers

November 10, 2013 Allegations of greed have been made against those fishers who wanted to retain the existing snapper bag and size limits of nine snapper at 27cm. This highlights a couple of points. The first is that some people still don’t fully understand the bigger picture of the proposed changes to Snapper 1 (and it is complex), the […]

People versus Profits

October 2, 2013 Are private profits and export dollars really more important than the people of New Zealand? Nathan Guys decision on the Snapper 1 fishery will tell us loud and clear where this governments allegiance lies – people or profits. Any day now (if not already) his decision will be announced. 48,000 submissions and 365,000 emails sent […]

Nathan Guy – will you Save our Snapper?

September 30, 2013 This month Nathan Guy, the Minister for Primary Industries is due to announce his decision that will determine the future of our snapper fishing through the Bay of Plenty, Coromandel, Hauraki Gulf and East Northland. Thank you to everyone who joined with LegaSea to make a stand and sent a submission to the Ministry to […]

Snapper decision falls short. LegaSea. 18 Sep 2013

September 18, 2013 Media release Recreational fishing advocacy group LegaSea, say recreational fishers are rightfully angry that their daily bag limits have been cut from nine to seven and the minimum legal size has been increased, from 27 to 30cm, when there is no change to commercial catch limits. Most of the snapper quota in Area 1 is […]