Kia ora Friend, With snapper season wrapping up and bluefin tuna marking the start of the cold season, it's apt to think we would be slowing down into a steady pace for a while. Well, that is not the case, with our team busier than ever preparing for upcoming campaigns, submissions, and events. Keep your eyes and ears peeled because there will be plenty of opportunities for your involvement over the next few months! Boat show wrap up |
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We're stoked at the success of this year's Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show, and we would like to give a big thank you to everyone who came through for a chat at our stand - we really enjoyed the immense support and opportunity to discuss with you all about the issues in our fisheries and solutions for more fish in the water.
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Also a big thank you to our partners who came and supported us on the stand - Barkers, Turkish Bread Ltd , Kōparepare Wines and Victory Knives.
Thousands of you signed on the back of a scallop or mussel to get bottom trawling, Danish seining, and scallop dredging out of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.
With our seawall abundant with shellfish, we want to show the Minister that by prohibiting mobile bottom-contact fishing methods, it is possible to rebuild the benthic environment. |
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This is why we've formed our Hauraki Gulf Alliance campaign. Partnering with numerous organisations, we are committed to making sure the new changes in the Gulf see mobile bottom-contact fishing methods such as bottom trawling banned. For those interested, there will be many opportunities for you to become involved over the next couple of months, so keep an eye out! Happy National Kahawai Day! |
Kahawai in all their glory. Photo by Mike Bhana |
Tomorrow we're celebrating National Kahawai Day, in recognition of the fishing community standing up for the people's fish.
Kahawai was often the first fish a child would catch, a rich-tasting fish to feed families, and people would marvel at the sight of their large schooling behaviour from the shore.
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Often the first fish a child will catch. |
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Kahawai, also known as 'the people's fish' was worth standing up for, and so The 4-year Kahawai Legal Challenge was born in the early 2000s.
The Kahawai Legal Challenge was a response to the Minister of Fisheries' unfair allocation decisions when kahawai was introduced into the Quota Management System (QMS) in 2004. The Minister allocated most of the available quota to industrial fishers who had already ravaged the fishery, using purse seiners and spotter planes to hoover up thousands of kahawai schools. |
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The Minister's decisions were not publicly well-received, and a campaign by The New Zealand Sport Fishing Council, and supported by Te Runanga A Iwi O Ngāpuhi and Te Runanga o Ngāti Whātua was launched. |
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The Kahawai Legal Challenge was the first time recreational fishers had taken the Minister of Fisheries to court since the QMS was introduced 20 years prior. It proved the public is able to influence how our fish stocks are managed, to ensure more sustainable and abundant fish populations for the future. And finally, 13 years ago on May 28th, communities nationwide received positive news after the Supreme Court clarified that the fisheries Minister can purposely allocate available fisheries to meet the needs of recreational or other interests. |
| Kahawai always put up a great fight!
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Since 2010 the Minister has deliberately limited commercial catch of kahawai on the northeast coast of the North Island in order to enhance public fishing. While there's still a long way to go before that fishery is abundant again, it's time to celebrate this win for public fishing interests and make May 28th a national event.
Take time to think of your kahawai memories, and read some kahawai stories here. |
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We are excited to announce that our very own Dallas Abel has been invited to speak on behalf of Kai Ika at the next TEDx Auckland event. He will give a detailed overview of the project and discuss the environmental, social and financial benefits of fish maximum utilisation.
TEDx is a program of local, self-organised events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx events, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. |
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Earlier this week the Government confirmed details of the roll-out of cameras onboard commercial fishing vessels.
Details include a timeline and restrictions around what vessels have cameras, with the roll-out beginning with West Coast North Island inshore trawl and setnet video footage becoming available from 30 November this year.
Read more about our thoughts on the update here.
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-- Ngā mihi Benn and the LegaSea crew |
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LegaSea appreciates the ongoing support of our Platinum and Gold partners - |
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