Photo by Laura Bell. Sun set on the Kaikoura coast.

Kia ora Friend,

Last Friday the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries, Shane Jones, made his first round of decisions for a range of fish stocks across New Zealand. While we hoped for a positive outcome, we have instead been left with a sour taste for what is to come.

What is clear from the decisions is the Minister's bias towards prioritising exports over Kiwis feeding their whanau with local kaimoana.

On the East Coast of the North Island between East Cape and south of the Wairoa River (CRA 3), the crayfish recreational daily bag limit has been cut in half, while commercial catch limits are off the hook with a small 20% reduction. Our concern stands with the outright bias that hides within this decision. 

The Minister claims he has made a precautionary decision. We say he has decided to protect commercial interests by making a small cut to their export catches, while we pay the price of losing access to a valuable food fishery. 

Targeting recreational fishers who only take around 3% of the commercial harvest, is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. 

Fishers in Kaikōura are left with a similar feeling as the Minister decided on limiting their recreational pāua season to only two months, while commercial fishers have access year-round. 

This is despite the most recent stock assessment indicating that the pāua fishery is steadily rebuilding, with greater pāua abundance than before the 2016 earthquakes. 

Kaikōura Boating and Fishing Club President Marty Sullivan stated that, "Shane Jones' decision flies in the face of common sense and decency." We couldn't agree more, Marty.

Game on Mr Minister.

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April Fish Reviews 

The Minister for Oceans and Fisheries released decisions last Friday for a range of fish stocks reviewed earlier in the year. We put a lot of effort into submitting common sense solutions to the proposals. Disappointment and frustration is being felt by Kiwis across the country as the Minister limits recreational harvest while prioritising commercial interests.

For East Coast crayfish between East Cape and south of the Wairoa River (CRA 3), the Minister announced a 20% reduction in commercial crayfish catches with recreational daily bag limits cut by 50%. These decisions are contrary to our submission, we recommended a 40% reduction in commercial crayfish harvest and retaining the daily bag limit.

Kaikōura locals are limited to a 2 month recreational pāua season this year from 22 April to 21 June, with a daily bag limit of three pāua, yet the commercial sector continues to enjoy year-round access. Our submission supported a 3-month open season for recreational pāua fishing.

Across Invercargill, Southland, and Fiordland (CRA 8), the Minister increased the commercial harvest of crayfish significantly. We supported the status quo, and a modest allowance increase of six tonnes to cover existing recreational catches.

In Febuary we supported the Minister increasing the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for Southern bluefin tuna by 186 tonnes including an increase of 35 tonnes to the recreational allowance. The changes will apply from 1 April 2024.

You can keep track of all our recent submissions (and our old ones) by visiting our Fisheries page on the NZ Sport Fishing Council website.

Homeland Kai Ika master cooking class

Homeland Restaurant, led by Chef Peter Gordon, champions sustainability, ethics, and New Zealand's vibrant cuisine. It's more than a dining spot—it's an "edible billboard" promoting local producers and indigenous ingredients. Through Homeland, Peter and his partner Alastair advocate for sustainable practices and community connections. 

They support The Kai Ika Project, emphasising maximum utilisation of ingredients and reducing waste. 

Join Chef Peter Gordon for a seafood cooking class at Homeland NZ, where he reveals the art of using whole fish. Tickets are limited at $225, with $50 going towards funding Kai Ika. The class will offer a unique culinary experience and insights while supporting sustainable seafood practices. 

With the news just in that Homeland will be closing soon, this could be your last chance to experience the wonderful cooking classes that Peter runs at Homeland. So be quick. Tickets are limited.

Book your spot now!

New Gold Partner: Wise Angler

In these financially choppy waters, it's heartening to see bright spots emerge. We're excited to share that LegaSea has found a new ally and Gold Partner in Wise Angler.

Wise Angler is a New Zealand-based company that offers premium quality, plastic-free fishing essentials. They are committed to sustainability and supporting the environment, and their products are designed to help anglers fish responsibly and reduce their impact on the planet.

Their 100% plastic free packaging aligns with our FishCare Principle #4 - Minimising Impact which highlights how fishers can reduce their impact on the environment through limiting plastic use and littering. 

Amidst the uncertainties, partnerships like these are the wind in our sails, the petrol in our outboard, and the strength in our paddles, helping us navigate towards our shared goal of sustainable seas. Wise Angler's commitment is a testament to their dedication to our cause.

With their support, we're better equipped to weather the storms and keep pushing forward. Here's to smoother sailing ahead, thanks to partners like Wise Angler!

Here's a full list of LegaSea Partners, who we are forever grateful for their support. 

Survey results: mushy flesh fish

In February, for a second iteration, we distributed the mushy flesh fish survey which asked respondents to recall where they went for their most recent fishing trip and whether or not they caught fish with mushy, white flesh. The purpose of the survey is to document where and when fishers have been catching mushy flesh fish, and observe any changes over time. 

To date, we have had 409 valid responses, 265 fishers confirmed that they had caught affected fish, 21% of respondents caught mushy flesh fish in east Northland south to Pakiri, 4% have caught affected fish in the Bay of Plenty and 64% have caught mushy, white flesh in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park. We also had 11% of respondents state that they have caught affected fish outside of these regions. 

Thank you to everyone who took the time to fill in the survey. It's great that so many of you are keen to contribute to monitoring the health of our fish stocks.  The survey is now closed but will reopen in June 2024.

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Ngā mihi nui,

Benn and the LegaSea crew

LegaSea appreciates the ongoing support of our Platinum and Gold partners -

LegaSea is a wholly owned subsidiary of the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council.

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