Photo by Freddie Zachariassen

Kia ora Friend,

The fish in our waters don't belong to quota holders - they belong to all of us. They are a public resource, not a private asset, no matter how entitled the commercial sector may act. Owning quota gives the right to harvest fish, but it doesn't mean those fish are theirs.

Each year, the government carries out sustainability reviews on selected fish stocks. In theory, these reviews are meant to ensure healthy fisheries for future generations. In practice, they often result in decisions that favour commercial interests, with very little consideration for public access, ecosystem health, or long-term outcomes.

Fishing is a Kiwi birthright. It's part of our culture, our whānau time, our identity. And it's worth standing up for. In this update, we break down one of the more frustrating narratives we hear – the misconception that recreational fishing isn't measured or monitored.

It is. The data is solid but it just doesn't suit the story being pushed by those who benefit from keeping the status quo.

October 'Sustainability' review

The Minister is reviewing catch limits for more than 29 different fish stocks ranging from Cape Reinga to the deep South. Shockingly, the Minister has only given the public 21 working days to digest the information and make an informed submission. This is the least amount of time we've ever been given to submit on this many fish stocks. 

This isn't public consultation. It's an attempt to minimise public input, the voices who want abundance prioritised over export receipts. 

We sent a letter to the Minister on 11 July 2025 requesting an extension to the public consultation period. We will keep you informed.

With time not on our side, LegaSea, alongside the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council, have the capacity to submit on 11 of our coastal fish stocks. 

If you live or fish in the areas below around the country, it's really important that you have your say.

Here's what is up for review. Links to review summaries.

West Coast, North Island 

Blue mackerel (EMA 7) -  Proposed increase to commercial catch limits.

Sprat (SPR 1) - Proposed reduction to commercial catch limits.

Blue cod (BCO 8) - Proposed reduction to recreational daily bag limit and commercial catch limits.

East Coast, North Island 

Jack mackerel (JMA 1) Proposed decrease to commercial catch limits.

Blue mackerel (EMA 1) - Proposed increase to commercial catch limits.

Anchovy (ANC 1) - Proposed reduction to commercial catch limits.

Garfish piper (GAR 1) - Proposed reduction to commercial catch limits.

Yellow eyed mullet (YEM 1) - Proposed increase to commercial catch limits.

Sprat (SPR 1) - Proposed reduction to commercial catch limits.

Paua (PAU 2) - Proposed reduction to commercial catch limits.

East Coast, South Island  

Blue cod (BCO 3) - Proposed reduction to the recreational daily bag limit in South Otago and a reduction to commercial catch limits.

West Coast, South Island 

Snapper & rig (SNA 7 & SPO 7) - Proposed increase to commercial catch limits.

Blue mackerel (EMA 7) -  Proposed increase to commercial catch limits.

Southland

Paua (PAU 5A) - Proposed reduction to commercial catch limits.

Blue cod (BCO 5) - Proposed reduction to the recreational daily bag limit

Submission form - Have your say on blue cod 

Photo by Judy Ormandey

Blue cod are a Kiwi icon. Sadly, due to years of mismanagement, blue cod stocks around the country are severely depleted. In response, Fisheries NZ are proposing changes to reduce catch limits for three important blue cod stocks.

Kaikoura, Canterbury and Otago region (BCO 3) - proposal to reduce all catch limits

Southland and Fiordland (BCO 5) -  proposal to only reduce the daily bag limit

Lower West Coast of North Island (BCO 8) - proposal to reduce all catch limits.

If you live or fish in these areas it's important you have your say. Which is why LegaSea has developed an easy-peasy online submission tool for you to make your voice heard. 

Join us in urging the Minister to priortise restoring blue cod populations for future generations.

If you want to read more about the the ongoing mismanagement of blue cod you can read our article here.

Make a quick submission here

Recreational harvest

Photo by Karena-Kaihe-Woolston

A common deflection we hear often is, "We don't know what the recreational fishing sector is taking." It's usually thrown out to shift attention away from destructive commercial methods like bottom trawling, dredging or purse seining. And more often than not, it comes from someone convinced that because they've never been surveyed at the boat ramp, recreational harvest estimates must be made up.

But here's the truth: recreational harvest in Aotearoa is measured using large-scale, independently reviewed surveys. The National Panel Survey, run in 2011-12, 2017-18, and 2022-23, involves tens of thousands of randomly selected households and thousands of active fishers. On-site boat ramp surveys by trained interviewers also collect real-time catch data for specific fisheries like crayfish and pāua. It's not about surveying everyone - it's about representative sampling and sound methodology, just like the Census.

And the results? Recreational harvest is going down, not up. In 2018, it was estimated at 9,000 tonnes. By 2023, it dropped to around 5,500 tonnes - all while the commercial sector landed over 338,000 tonnes in the 2023-24 fishing year. The data exists, it's reliable, and it tells an important story.

Read the full breakdown here.

Quick facts about recreational fishing...

🎣 What are the top recreationally caught species in New Zealand?
According to the 2022-23 National Panel Survey, the most popular take-home species for marine recreational fishers are snapper, kahawai, blue cod and red gurnard.

🎣 How much fish do recreational fishers catch compared to commercial fishers in New Zealand each year?

Recreational fishers typically catch less than 5% of the total fish caught annually from commercial fishers in New Zealand.. 

Sources: 2022-23 National Panel Survey, 2017-18 National Panel Survey, 2011-12 National Panel Survey, Commercial harvest. Fisheries NZ

To view more FAQs, click here.

How to help

We can only do our job with the support of people like you. If you would like to do more, please consider one of the following:

➔ Donate to LegaSea

➔ Become a partner 

➔ Become a LegaSea Legend

In the news...

Rough times for a classic NZ fish

The country's deep-sea darling, the orange roughy, is once again at the centre of controversy. Once hailed as the "white gold" of our oceans, this elusive, slow-growing fish is fast becoming a symbol of what happens when demand outweighs caution.

Newsroom, The Detail. Amanda Gillies - July 2025

From mussels to mud

News that thousands of litres of sewage overflowed into the Mahurangi River after recent heavy rainfall is another gut punch for local oyster farmers and the wider marine environment. Couple that with the recent closure of the inner Hauraki Gulf to commercial and recreational crayfish harvest and it's hard not to long for the good ol' days.

Local Matters, Sam Woolford - July 2025

Wanganui-Manawatu Sea Fishing Club leader raises alarm over seabed mining

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.

RNZ, Moana Ellis - July 2025

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