Photo by Freddie Zachariassen |
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Kia ora Friend,
It's that time again. Fisheries NZ has just dropped proposals to change catch limits for 35 different fish stocks around the country, with two more review papers expected by the end of June. Among them are:
👉🏽 Pāua 2 - One of Aotearoa's largest pāua fishery that stretches from Wairarapa, Wellington and up to Taranaki. 👉🏽 Snapper 7 - Our beloved top of the South Island snapper.
👉🏽 Blue cod - Changes could be coming for multiple blue cod stocks across Wellington, Taranaki (BCO 8) the east coast of the South Island (BCO 3), and Southland (BCO 5).
Over the next couple of weeks, we'll unpack what some of these proposals mean for you, your fishing, and the health of our marine environment.
If you're eager, you can click here to view more details on the proposed changes. |
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Blue Cod - How Not to Manage a Fishery |
Photo by Judy Ormandey
Blue Cod is the king of the South, as iconic down here as snapper is up north. It's the fish generations of Kiwis have built their summers around, filling pans at the crib and photo albums back home. But after years of poor management, commercial overreach, and political buck-passing, this once-reliable fishery is falling apart. In some places, it's already gone.
Recreational fishers are facing slashed bag limits - down to just two fish per person in many areas - while the commercial sector has been allowed to exceed its catch limits (in BCO3) 19 times in the last 20 years. There's still no reliable stock assessment in most places, no regional tailoring, and no serious attempt to address the skewed sex ratios and ecosystem-level red flags that are beginning to emerge. And somehow, it's everyday fishers being asked to give up more, while the trawl doors keep swinging.
This article takes a closer look at what's really going on across the three major blue cod fisheries - BCO 3, BCO 5, and BCO 8 - and unpacks how a fishery this culturally important could be allowed to collapse on our watch. If you care about the future of fishing in Aotearoa, you'll want to read on.
Read article. |
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Quick facts about sustainability rounds... |
⚓ What is a sustainability round?
Twice a year in April and October, the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries changes the management for various fish stocks across the country. Before any changes are implemented Fisheries NZ issues a proposal paper and asks for feedback or "submissions" from interested parties. Interested parties can include the general public, recreational fishers, commercial fishers, Māori and environmental interests. Everyone has to respond by a set deadline. These are called "sustainability reviews".
The sustainability round reviews usually focus on commercial catch limits, recreational and customary allowances, bag limits and fishing seasons. After submissions are made, Fisheries NZ reviews and summarises the submissions for the Minister, and makes recommendations on what the Minister ought to do next. The Minister has the final say on the proposed changes. The Minister's decision is announced and any changes usually apply from the following 1 April or 1 October.
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⚓ Is there anything sustainable about "sustainability reviews"?
No, it depends on your definition of "sustainable". Under the Quota Management System the fish stocks that get the most attention are usually the ones that are important to commercial interests. That means most effort is directed to delivering proposals that could increase commercial catch limits, or churning out data that supports the maintenance of existing catch limits, even in fish stocks that are clearly depleted. |
To view more FAQs on sustainability rounds, click here. |
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Every day fishing is worth celebrating |
Photo by Edward Judd
In the US, June 18 is National Go Fishing Day – a celebration of the joy, culture, and community surrounding recreational fishing. Here in New Zealand, we don't have an equivalent day, despite fishing being an essential part of our history, identity, and economy. With over a million fishing trips made in 2023 and nearly a billion dollars spent each year by Kiwis chasing snapper, kahawai, and kina, it might be time we recognised its true value.
Beyond the rods and reels, recreational fishing data in New Zealand is some of the best in the world. It's peer-reviewed, scientifically sound, and informs fisheries management decisions at the highest level. While some critics still question the accuracy, the National Panel Survey – and the significant work done to gather reliable, representative data – tells a clear story: fewer people are fishing, less seafood is being harvested, and shellfish and crayfish stocks are struggling in many areas.
Despite accounting for less than 10% of our total marine harvest, recreational fishing generates $1.7 billion in economic activity, surpassing the commercial export sector in some years. It's a low-impact, high-value way of connecting with nature, feeding whānau, and passing down knowledge. So why aren't we celebrating it? Maybe it's time we did. Read the full article. |
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Kai Ika wins Westhaven sustainability award |
We're celebrating because The Kai Ika Project has received Westhaven Marina's 2025 Sustainable Action of the Year award for our Cans for Kai initiative. This recognition highlights a shared commitment to stewardship. By collaborating with Westhaven Marina and Phoenix Recycling, we're helping the Westhaven boating community recycle purposefully, transforming empty cans into vital cash for our kai distribution efforts. Read more here. |
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In the news... UN labels NZ a fisheries leader, while NGOs call foul on coral
New Zealand's under-fire approach to fisheries management has received glowing remarks in a comparative United Nations report on how the world's oceans are managed. The commercial fishing industry says it's proof that the status quo not only works, but is world-beating. But a leading environmentalist says the approach taken in the report means New Zealand was in effect marking its own homework.
Newsroom, Andrew Bevin - June 2025 |
Restored abundance in the Gulf requires meaningful management
At last month's Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show, there was a powerful display of public support for abundant fisheries and a thriving marine environment for future generations. But instead of offering real solutions, the government is pushing through a flawed fix. LegaSea article, Mahurangi Matters - June 2025
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