Photo by Karena Kaihe-Woolston. Winner of the Collecting and Catching Kaimoana category. |
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Kia ora Friend,
With the Fisheries Reform Scam submissions now in, we've finally had a bit of breathing room to shift focus toward some more positive things (well – aside from the latest NZSFC Pod and Reel episode, which is a heavy but important listen about the fairly recent tragedy involving three fishers from the Gisborne Tatapouri Club). We've wrapped up the FishCare Summer Photo Comp, and the winning entries are absolute stunners. The Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show is just around the corner – and we'll be there flying the LegaSea flag and having some important conversations. And with Mother's Day coming up, we want to give a proper shout out to all the wāhine who fish, feed the crew, and pass on their love of the ocean. You're the backbone of this community, and we see you.
Plenty to dive into – scroll on. |
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FishCare Summer Photo Comp – The Results Are In! |
Our annual FishCare Summer Photo Competition has wrapped up for another year, and once again, the entries blew us away.
Spanning seven categories and supported by seven incredible partners, the competition drew in a brilliant collection of entries from around Aotearoa. From epic underwater encounters to stunning coastal landscapes, and beautifully prepared kaimoana enjoyed with friends and whānau – this summer's entries reminded us exactly what we're working to protect. A huge congratulations to our overall winner, Alex Stammers, for capturing a truly rare moment – a snapper cruising calmly above a thriving bed of kelp. Snapper are notoriously skittish, and Alex's photo is an impressive glimpse of what a healthy marine ecosystem can look like when given the chance to flourish. It's a once-in-a-lifetime shot. We also want to give a massive shoutout to all our category winners and runners-up. The standard was incredibly high this year, and we thoroughly enjoyed trawling through all the images. Overall winner - Sponsored by NZ Fishing News Alex Stammers |
Landscape Coastal Shots winner - Sponsored by Endemic World Bella Muir |
Runners up Alex Stammers (left), Freddie Zachariassen (right) |
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Runners up Jacob Macdonald (left), Kayla Adlington (right) |
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Marine Life in Their Natural Environment winner - Sponsored by Marine Deals Alex Stammers |
Runners up Anna Lofi (left), Jason Crew (right) |
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Collecting and Catching Kaimoana winner - Sponsored by Okuma Karena Kaihe-Woolston |
Runners up Cherie Wright (left), Alice St. George (right) |
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Preparing, Cooking, and Eating Kaimoana winner - Sponsored by Cobb Grill Josh Carmine |
Runners up Vicky Dudley (left), Hayley Tehu (right) |
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Things That Ain't Right in Our Oceans winner - Sponsored by LegaSea Jason Crew |
Runners up Sora Waningsinggel (left), Sallyanne Holmes (right) |
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Special mention Laura Elliott - winner of last year's Kids section "This is a photo of me with my first caught fish of the summer, using the fishing rod I won as a prize for the under 13 photo competition last summer. Thank you Legasea for my awesome prize." Nice work Laura! |
A massive thank you to everyone who entered, and to the partners who made this competition possible. We'll be showcasing selected images across our socials and website over the coming weeks, so keep an eye out!
Until next summer! |
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Let's show Shane Jones what real reform looks like. |
LegaSea is back at the 2025 Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show with a bold new theme: "Stop the Fisheries Scam – Rebuild Our Fisheries." With reform submissions now in, it's time to shift gears – to grow our movement, raise awareness, and fight for real solutions like Rescue Fish.
Our centrepiece? The "Stick a Fish, Stop the Scam" wall. Visitors can scan their ticket, choose a sticker of a fish they want to see more of (snapper, blue cod, kahawai, gurnard – all the good stuff), and add it to a giant ocean mural. Each fish stuck is a voice for abundance – and a shot at winning some epic prizes. Make a $5+ donation and we'll double your chances.
You'll also find our Fisheries Scam resource wall, a campaign success panel celebrating 25,000 voices and counting, and a compact merch table with hand-picked gear and tap-to-donate points. Whether you're signing up, donating, or just stopping by for a yarn – you'll be part of something bigger.
Come add your fish. Come add your voice.
Get your tickets here! |
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Pod and Reel - from NZ Sport Fishing Council The latest episode of the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council's Pod and Reel hits close to home.
If you are after a good, informative listen for when you are running errands around the house then the Pod and Reel podcast is a great one to tune in to.
The latest episode looks back on the tragic loss of three experienced fishers from the Gisborne Tatapouri Club – a tough reminder of how quickly things can go wrong on the water, even for the most seasoned crews. It's not an easy listen but it's an important one.
It's a raw but respectful chat, and you'll find some valuable takeaways around boating safety, decision-making, and coming home safe. If you spend time on the water – or you know those who do – it's well worth a listen. Listen here or search NZSFC wherever you get your podcasts. |
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LegaSea is proudly supported by its Gold and Platinum partners: |
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