February 24, 2025
Shane Jones’ latest proposal package, conveniently framed as a “Fisheries Reform”, is nothing but a wishlist of changes hunted by quota owners for over two decades. It represents a major loosening of controls on commercial fishing and grants wide powers to the Minister to increase commercial catches on a whim. The Fisheries Act is being […]
February 18, 2025
This morning’s announcement by Shanes Jones, Minister for Oceans and Fisheries, proposed major changes to the Fisheries Act that threaten to remove public consultation, weaken governance, camera regulations, and discard rules. During the press conference, the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries was overt in his support for commercial fishers and quota owners. At the same […]
January 22, 2025
We hope you’re feeling recharged after the summer break because we’ll need every ounce of energy to tackle what may be the most shocking example of regulatory capture by the commercial fishing industry yet. Right now, we’re staring down the grim reality of a proposed commercial catch increase in CRA 2 (Te Arai Point down […]
December 18, 2024
There’s something about fishing that just feels good for the soul. Whether it’s a day spent drifting quietly on still waters, casting your line past the breakers on the beach, or heading out wide with your closest mates, it offers a gentle reprieve from the relentless buzz of everyday life. For so many of us […]
November 22, 2024
As Black Friday approaches, the buzz of deals and discounts fills the air, but beneath the surface, another kind of blackness is spreading – one that threatens the very lifeblood of New Zealand’s identity: our oceans. The Quota Management System (QMS), once seen as a beacon of sustainable fishing, has devolved into a mechanism prioritising […]
November 13, 2024
In the marine world, everything is in constant motion – shifting, ebbing, flowing, breaking down, and rebuilding. It’s never a dull moment out there, which is exactly why we love it so much. Kiwis are incredibly passionate about fishing, boating, and our oceans in general. One of the great joys of living in New Zealand […]
October 23, 2024
It’s been a whirlwind year so far! We’ve faced some seriously counterproductive decisions from Fisheries NZ, watched the government push for fast-tracking sand and seabed mining, and to top it off, dealt with a flood of mushy-fleshed and zombie fish — keeping things more than interesting. As the days grow warmer and longer, and Labour […]
October 1, 2024
Twice a year, New Zealand’s “Sustainability Rounds” provide a critical opportunity to adjust catch limits, assess fisheries management, and ensure the long-term health of our marine ecosystems. However, this September, the rounds have taken a troubling turn. Rather than prioritising sustainability, recent decisions by the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries Shane Jones have sparked concerns […]
August 30, 2024
This isn’t the start of the scallop season we ever hoped for – but hopefully it’s the start of a wake-up call. Come Sunday 1 September, you won’t find scallops on the east coast of New Zealand. The beds are barren, overfished to the point of collapse, and now closed to both commercial and recreational […]
August 13, 2024
Our fisheries management team has been working hard out! With an unprecedented 20 fishery proposals for the October review round, the team put in the hard mahi to complete submissions on 15 fish stocks. An incredible effort! But, how can Fisheries New Zealand seriously expect the New Zealand public to be able to have meaningful […]
