Articles

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 […]

Our perfect day

January 18, 2017 The sun hasn’t even peaked over the horizon, yet you find yourself rolling over to silence that obnoxious alarm. Exhausted from a restless night, plagued by anticipation of the day to come. Despite this you spring out of bed and slip into those old clothes tucked away in your bottom draw, that musty, fishy smell […]

Future of our Fisheries

December 23, 2016 On 11th November, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) announced their new programme, Future of Our Fisheries (FOOF). Consultation opened, requesting submissions and planning a number of meetings around the country. LegaSea believed this was the perfect opportunity to implement policy similar to that of “Moyle’s Promise”. Hon. Colin Moyle was Minister of Fisheries 1972-1977 […]

Our declining snapper fishery – what’s going on?

December 21, 2016 Snapper is the North Island’s favourite inshore species and are hotly pursued by both recreational and commercial fishers. The Bay of Plenty has sometimes been labelled ‘the Bay of Empty’ when fishing efforts have been consistently poor. The question many people ask themselves – is it over fishing and a result of poor fishery management […]

Taranaki seabed mining

December 21, 2016 On the 23rd August, Trans-Tasman Resources Ltd (TTR) applied to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to obtain a permit to mine the seabed on the South Taranaki Bight. This application would give TTR permission to excavate 50 million tonnes of sediment from the seabed per year, for the next 35 years with 90% of it […]

How healthy is Gisborne’s crayfish fishery?

December 6, 2016 In late September the Ministry for Primary Industries asked for public feedback on the health of the crayfish stock in the Gisborne area, officially referred to as CRA 3. There are mixed views on the stock status. Commercial interests, the Ministry, and scientists all advocate the fishery is in fine fettle. Meanwhile, for people around […]

Public says Ministry need to up their game

December 6, 2016 A recent survey shows that 83% of New Zealanders feel that the current approach to fisheries management is average to very poor when it comes to limiting catch and rebuilding our fish stocks to a suitable level. LegaSea is surprised by the depth of dissatisfaction amongst the general public to the way our fisheries are […]

Fryday FryUp – 25 November

November 25, 2016 Achilles disaster, preference for public fishing, your support for LegaSea Achilles keeps on turning out to be a disaster Good news! We put cameras on boats to see what industrial fishers get up to. Bad news! We found them doing bad things. Good news! There’s proof positive in the footage so we can prosecute. Bad […]