Kia ora Friend,
Today's good news is undermined by the fact that we know so little about our fish stocks. While a lack of information is supposed to lead to more precautionary management decisions, our reality is much different. Fisheries New Zealand continue to withhold a raft of reports, and bottom trawling in inshore waters is still killing too many fish.
Rescue Fish 'Redacted' campaign
It's game on in terms of exposing the serious lack of information supporting the management of our precious fish stocks. There is so much we don't know when it comes to fish stock levels, the impacts of fishing on the marine environment and how climate change will affect available fish species.
We know change is coming. And we know our kids will face the consequences of today's inaction, so it is incumbent on us to implement solutions.
For a start there needs to be more urgency around rebuilding depleted fish stocks to more natural levels. Also, if we want our kids to be eating freshly caught kaimoana we have to improve our behaviour on land. Reducing run-off will help make our marine environment more productive.
Rescue Fish is designed to mitigate the environmental impacts that our kids will have to deal with. This will be achieved by restoring biodiversity in the marine environment. We can all contribute to this regeneration. Please support the Rescue Fish effort. Find out more here.
Election round up - a new Minister of Oceans and Fisheries
David Parker has been appointed to the new role of Minister for Oceans and Fisheries. He is also Minister for the Environment, Revenue, and the Attorney-General.
Our team is looking forward to meeting with David as he seems a very capable man. He has already indicated he will be ploughing ahead with reforms to the Resource Management Act (RMA). This is good news as recent Environment Court decisions have blurred the boundaries between the RMA and Fisheries Act responsibilities.
The absence of meaningful fisheries management has seen well-meaning communities resort to the RMA for resolution. This has led to the real prospect of restrictions in some of our traditional fishing grounds.
After years of inertia there is some optimism for this Southern Man doing good. Given his sharp intellect we are hopeful that David Parker will see through the murky waters of failed policy and grab fisheries reform like we grab hold of our first fish.
Target reached for Whitehaven's Kōparepare
Thanks to all our LegaSea supporters and the wider community for purchasing Kōparepare wines over the past fortnight, the result has been incredible.
Whitehaven offered a target of 125 cases from which they would make a 100% contribution of the sales value as a donation to LegaSea and it certainly looks as though we have achieved that result comfortably.
The final figures are still being tallied, but the early indications are that Whitehaven will be donating a figure of at least $25,000 to the LegaSea cause.
It is important that you don't stop supporting the Kōparepare wine brand. The initial campaign donation has been generous, however Whitehaven isn't stopping there. The company have pledged to continue their support of LegaSea with a donation of $1 for every bottle of Kōparepare sold, today onwards.
"We are thrilled with this result" says Koparepare brand ambassador Samantha White. "These are great quality wines, perfect for the summer season so please continue to buy and enjoy and we'll be able to do even more to support LegaSea".
Thanks to you for supporting the cause, and a special thanks to the Whitehaven team.
Order your wine now!
The Kai Ika filleting trailer opens at Westhaven
We're pleased to announce the opening of the Kai Ika fish filleting trailer at Westhaven. For a modest cost we can clean and fillet your fish. The trailer will be open 11am to 6.30pm (weather permitting, wind less than 20 knots), Thursday to Sunday until the end of daylight saving. Filleting starts at $3 for snapper, gurnard or kahawai.
All unwanted fish parts will be distributed by Papatūānuku Kōkiri Marae to whanau that need and want them, with the guts and gills going into the ground to help grow kumara and other vegetables at the marae.
The design and build of this trailer was a true collaboration of some remarkable and generous organisations: Alround Sheetmetals, who built the body of the trailer, Hybrid Electrical, who fitted it out with full solar powered electricity, Special Group, for the branding, Monster Print, APL Window Solutions, Sullivan Plumbing, RICH Landscapes, Bay Engineering Solutions, Belgotex Flooring, Burnsco and George and Willy.
And it couldn't have happened without the generous support of Auckland Council, Foundation North, Westhaven Marina and the Ministry for the Environment.
The Kai Ika filleting services are weather dependant, so stay updated by following the Kai Ika Instagram account or our Facebook page.
Wish4Fish Fishing Competition
The Wish 4 Fish Charity is a wonderful charity that gives people with a variety of mental and physical disabilities the opportunity to experience salt water activities.
They are hosting a Coromandel fishing competition out of Thames on November 21, 2020. Great prizes for the anglers including $1000 cash for the average weight snapper, 4 fish species and 8 fish categories.
Underwater section includes crayfish, kingfish (speared) and butterfish (speared), so plenty to interest the divers. Every competitor receives a sponsor's T-shirt. All participants go in the draw to win $500 worth of product thanks to the generous sponsors.
You can download an entry form from here.
Further details are on the event poster can be downloaded from here.
All funds raised go to the Wish 4 Fish Charity and helping people with illness
and disability get out on the water.
New Gold Partners - Wettie and Makaira Boats
In tough times sponsorship can be the first casualty however we have been fortunate to have most of our sponsors stand by us, and we have even grown our Partner base. This month Makaira Boats and Wettie have joined our Gold Partner sponsor group.
Allan Shaw, owner of Makaira Boats is an exceptional builder of the highest quality aluminium sport fishing vessels. Allan started backing LegaSea when he constructed his first Makaira boat nearly seven years ago. To see how much Allan has achieved since his start up is inspiring. We feel honoured and humbled that he has chosen to do even more for us as his business goes from strength to strength. For every metre of boat he builds Allan has committed to making a donation to LegaSea. Pure Gold.
Darren Shields and his family have built Wettie from the ocean floor up. The team at Wettie are as connected to our marine environment as you could possibly get. They have a real insight into what it's like under the water and the impacts we are all having on this valuable resource. If you are looking to get into the world of freediving and spearfishing then Wettie has it all available both in store and online. If you are keen to show your support for LegaSea too then they'll even print the LegaSea logo on your suit.
Please be sure to check out the offers from Makaira Boats and Wettie when making your new purchasing decisions, as your support of them helps LegaSea too.
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Thank you
Trish and the LegaSea crew
LegaSea appreciates the ongoing support of our Platinum and Gold partners -
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