Kia ora Friend,

The government is forging ahead with support for ongoing bottom trawling despite widespread public outrage at the damage it is causing to the marine environment. 

Two decisions within days of each other confirm the government is committed to allowing bottom trawling, dredging and seining in inshore waters. Both decisions are contrary to the government's vision for healthy and productive oceans. 

We've been waiting for tangible evidence the government is serious about its much-vaunted "stewardship" responsibilities. None has been forthcoming. 

Instead, we learn this week the government is pressing ahead with the Fisheries Industry Transformation Plan, which is anything but transformative, and the conflicted Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Fisheries Plan, allowing trawling in vast swathes while closing other areas to fishing.  Neither of these pass the sniff test of sincerity.

The government falls short in the Hauraki Gulf

Today the government announced 19 new marine protected areas (MPAs) where fishing will be banned while allowing the continued use of destructive fishing methods within the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park. 

We're gutted. The Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Fisheries Plan was supposed to be bold. It failed at the first hurdle because it doesn't go far enough. 

If the government is serious about restoring biodiversity then we must rebuild fish abundance. We need more fish in the water!

More fish in the water is good for the environment, our health and well-being. 

Why would the government choose to only protect 18% of the Marine Park when there is strong support to protect 100%? 

To restore and protect life within the Gulf we must get rid of destructive fishing methods that are impacting the seabed and marine life. That means no more bottom trawling, dredging, Danish or purse seining in the Marine Park. 

Trawl corridors, which will actually be large areas of the Gulf, are currently being planned. These will be released for public consultation in September, giving us one last opportunity to have our say. Stay tuned!

Read more here.

The untransformational Fisheries Industry Transformation Plan

We're pleased the government has pulled back on its promises to use our taxpayer funds to build bigger, more powerful trawlers and dredgers. For now at least. But that might be just a smokescreen. 

We are on standby because the Minister has indicated that government support might be made available for regional development in the form of "boat building". This is back to the future. An offensive part of the original plan was for taxpayer funds to build a fleet of more powerful boats capable of catching more fish using the same old methods. In June we said no way. 

Please, do not take your eye off this development as there is no way we accept our hard-earned cash being used to fund destructive fishing. We need you to be part of this action as future generations deserve our best efforts. 

Our media release

https://legasea.co.nz/2023/08/08/government-fishing-plan-ignores-public-outrage/ 

Our joint submission

https://www.nzsportfishing.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ITP-submission-recreational-11-June-2023.pdf 

Government's Oceans and Fisheries Vision

https://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/oceans-and-fisheries-our-vision-healthy-and-productive-oceans 

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Ngā mihi nui,

Benn and the LegaSea crew

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