Kia ora Friend,
After decades of inaction, officials are finally reacting to public pressure to do something meaningful to protect the intertidal zone from total depletion. We hope it's not too late.
The intertidal zone is where the whelks, catseyes, limpets and crabs cling. They cling hard to the rocks because they want to stay there when the tide comes in or goes out. Sadly, our fishing regulations haven't kept pace with the way that people are now harvesting these critters, so for years people have been using wire brushes, spades and knives to pluck all life from the rocks, then finishing it off with piano wire to make sure nothing is left behind.
LegaSea supports a review of the rules that apply to shellfish gathering, leaving the intertidal zone alone and maintaining reasonable public access to species that are capable of sustaining themselves.
This month we're looking more in depth at a proposed shellfish closure around Auckland and the Coromandel, the latest developments in the Fisheries Amendment Bill, and why "we've always trawled there" isn't the compelling argument some people think it is.
Because whether it's closures, legislation or fishing methods, the conversation always comes back to the same question.
Where did all the fish go? |
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Proposed intertidal zone restrictions: Auckland and Coromandel |
Photo by Sora Waningsinggel |
Auckland's intertidal ecosystems in and around rockpools are in measurable decline. Long-term monitoring by the Auckland Council has reported falling populations of cats eyes, limpets, chitons and periwinkles across the Hauraki Gulf, driven by a combination of harvest pressure, sedimentation, and marine heatwaves.
Fisheries New Zealand is consulting on major new restrictions on recreational shellfish and invertebrate gathering along the Auckland (east and west) and Coromandel coastlines. Our fisheries management team is drafting a joint submission for the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council, NZ Underwater and the NZ Angling & Casting Association.
The Auckland and Coromandel coastline is not a one-size-fits-all. The east coast, west coast, and Coromandel each face different levels of pressure, different ecological profiles, and different access characteristics, and our submission recommendations reflect that.
We are supporting a partial intertidal closure, but with important modifications. A blanket ban is not the solution. The closure needs to target rocky shore species actually under pressure: cats eyes, whelks and periwinkles. Species like rock lobster, pāua, scallops and squid are already managed under dedicated frameworks or there is no sustainability concern.
Our key asks:
Daily bag limits based on evidence. We are supporting reduced recreational daily bag limits for pipi, tuatua, mussels and kina, plus new limits for paddle crabs, octopus, sea cucumbers, shrimps and squid - species that currently have no limit at all.
A review period. A closure with no end date is just a locked gate. We are pushing for a formal review of the measures within five years, once Fisheries NZ's new monitoring programme is completed and the results are published. If the programme is extended, this will be completed in 2-3 years.
Address all ecosystem effects. Harvest restrictions alone won't fix the problem. Sedimentation, stormwater and marine heatwaves are all driving decline. Cheltenham Beach has been closed to shellfish harvest since 1993, a stark reminder that harvest restrictions alone cannot undo damage driven by land-based pollution and degraded water quality. We are asking officials to work with local councils on land-based stressors alongside any fishing restrictions.
The vast majority of fishers are doing the right thing; compliance in Auckland was 93% in 2025. Any response must be proportionate to that reality. Recreational fishers ought to retain reasonable access to gather species that are not at risk. A well-designed closure will protect what needs protecting without completely locking responsible people out. We encourage you to read Fisheries NZ's proposals here and have your say by 5 pm this Friday, June 12.
Email your submission to FMsubmissions@mpi.govt.nz |
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Politicians are listening. Now let's Kill the Bill |
The Fisheries Amendment Bill remains one of the most controversial fisheries proposals in recent history. LegaSea, the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council and a growing coalition of recreational fishers, environmental organisations, community groups and leaders of the tackle industry oppose the Bill because it weakens protections, reduces transparency and moves New Zealand further away from rebuilding abundant fisheries. So where do political parties stand?
National, ACT and New Zealand First supported the Bill at its first reading. National has said it will not support the Bill at its second reading if public concerns remain.
Recently, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins has confirmed that Labour shares our concerns about the Bill and "...will not be voting for the Bill."
The Greens, Te Pati Māori and the Opportunity Party are also fiercely in opposition against the Bill, raising concerns about sustainability, transparency and public access to fisheries.
Politicians are listening. With the November 7th election fast approaching, now is the time to tell them again that Kiwis want the Fisheries Amendment Bill dropped. What happens now?
The Primary Production Select Committee considering the Bill, has received thousands of submissions, heard a raft of oral presentations, and asked lots of questions. By August 6 the Committee must report their recommendations to Parliament. It may recommend amendments, support the Bill largely unchanged, or call for more substantial changes. What happens next will be crucial. The decisions made over the coming months will help determine who benefits from New Zealand's fisheries and how they are managed.
Right now, the Bill represents an orchestrated move to deprive us, the public, of our fisheries, meaning our kids will miss out on the joys and well-being we get from fishing. That's why we are still determined to Kill the Bill.
Public pressure is the only way we can stop the Bill. Please, write to your MP now. Tell them how you feel. The LegaSea team has made it easy; we've put together a draft email template and a list of MPs.
Click here to use our template. I Fish. I Care. I Vote. |
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Why we support a transition to selective fishing methods |
We often hear that trawling must be fine because the industry is still catching fish from the same areas it has fished for decades. It's usually said by the people doing the trawling, and it's usually a deflection.
The fact is "still catching fish" and a "healthy fishery" are not the same thing. Trawling rarely causes overnight collapse, it chips away at abundance over time. Larger breeding fish are removed, habitats are flattened, food webs are altered. By the time a fishery is in trouble, the warning signs have usually been visible for years.
Bottom trawling has three specific problems: 1. Destructive to the environment. Heavy gear flattens seafloor habitats that take decades to form. 2. Bulk harvesting at its worst. Fish are crushed under the weight of the net, arriving on deck damaged and fetching low prices. 3. Non-selective. Alongside target species, juvenile fish, seabirds, and marine animals are caught in the net too. This unnecessary non-target catch creates ecological imbalance and adds to waste that the industry has little incentive to account for.
The alternatives exist and they work. Longlining and trapping are more selective, leave habitats largely intact, and deliver fish in far better condition. These methods take more time and skill, but higher-quality fish command better prices. Fishers who work smarter rather than harder generate more value from fewer fish.
That's the transition we're advocating for. A commercial fishing industry built on quality over volume, better for fishers, coastal communities and the marine environment we all depend on. |
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Scuttling the Twofold Bay |
The Twofold Bay Charitable Trust and LegaSea Hawkes Bay are delighted to report that the final clearance has been given for the sinking of Twofold Bay to create an artificial reef and dive site. This follows nearly three years of consultation and planning and readying the vessel for sinking in accordance with the London Protocol for removing contaminants and making it safe for diving.
A formal blessing by Mana Whenua will take place alongside Twofold Bay, West Quay Ahuriri at 10 am on Tuesday 16 June. There is an open invitation for those wishing to attend. Subject to favourable weather conditions Twofold Bay will be towed out to the site (39.26.860S 176.56.940E) early in the morning of Wednesday 17 June and once there tied up to a pre-laid mooring. The sinking is scheduled to take place from 1 pm onwards.
Artificial Reef Creation in Hawke's Bay | The Twofold Bay Charitable Trust Facebook - The Twofold Bay Charitable Trust |
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Partner Spotlight - Turkish Bread |
We want to give a proper shout-out to Ken Vaughan and the team at Turkish Bread, who have been long-time supporters and partners of LegaSea.
These guys have backed us for years now, not because it's trendy or good PR, but because they care about the future of our oceans and fisheries. It's the sort of support that means a lot, especially in a space where plenty of businesses are happy to stay quiet and not rock the boat.
The reality is that organisations like ours can only keep doing what we do because good people and businesses step up behind the scenes and help fund the fight. Whether that's pushing back on bad policy, campaigning for healthier fisheries, educating the public, or simply keeping pressure on decision-makers, it all takes resources. Turkish Bread has been part of that support network for a long time, and we're hugely grateful for it.
They're also just bloody good people making incredible-tasting products, which helps! Chances are you're already a fan of their pizza bases and bread but if you haven't tried it yet, now's a good time to start. Next time you see Turkish Bread on the shelf, give them some support back. Businesses supporting healthier oceans and more fish in the water deserve to be backed by the public too. |
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Barren rockpools demand bold action
Fisheries New Zealand is proposing major new restrictions on recreational harvesting of shellfish and invertebrates along Auckland's east and west coast and the Coromandel coastline.
LegaSea Update for Fishing in Godzone - Pages 36-42 |
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LegaSea is proudly supported by its Gold and Platinum partners: |
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