LegaSea

Photo by Laura Bell

Kia ora Friend,

June 18th is one of those days we'll remember for a long, long time.

As we watched the ex-trawler Twofold Bay disappear beneath the waves after more than three years of planning, preparation and hard work from an incredible group of volunteers and supporters in Hawke's Bay, we received news that the Fisheries Amendment Bill was also sinking, slipping to the bottom of Parliament's priority list.

Both were great reminders that persistence works and matters.

While the Bill may be on hold, the fight for abundant fisheries is far from over. Fisheries New Zealand is now reviewing 30 fish stocks, and the latest science shows east coast tarakihi has collapsed to just 8% of its original spawning biomass. The decisions made over the coming weeks will determine the future of many of our important fisheries.

Definitely a victory worth celebrating. Now it's time to keep the momentum going.

October "Sustainability" round

Credit - NZ Fishing News

Each year, Fisheries New Zealand (FNZ) reviews the management of selected fish stocks. In principle, these reviews keep our fisheries healthy for future generations. In practice, FNZ too often delivers proposals that prioritise exports, with little weight on public access, ecosystem health or long-term abundance.

Public consultation is underway for 30 fish stocks. Alongside the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council, LegaSea will lodge submissions on 15 of them. With only 21 working days to respond, we can't cover everything, so we won't be submitting on the other 15 this round.

It's a mixed bag. For some depleted stocks, FNZ has proposed cuts for commercial and recreational fishers. For others, FNZ has proposed to increase the commercial catch. There are also proposals to change deemed value penalties for commercial fishers exceeding their catch limit.

Mismanagement of tarakihi

New Zealand's east and west coast tarakihi stocks are both up for review in 2026. The May stock assessment estimated that 92% of the spawning biomass - the mature tarakihi capable of breeding - has been stripped from the east coast.

At around 8% of its estimated unfished biomass, the east coast tarakihi fishery is, by definition, collapsed.

The west coast fishery isn't far behind. In 2026 the first full stock assessment was completed. The west coast spawning biomass is estimated to be sitting at 29% of its estimated unfished biomass.

Fisheries NZ defines the west coast tarakihi fishery as: overfished and declining rapidly.

Other fisheries are following a similar pattern. Southland elephantfish, Marlborough butterfish, and pāua in Southland and Marlborough are declining, requiring catch reductions. Decades of mismanagement are catching up.

Changes for recreational fishers

Proposed changes for recreational daily bag limits (DBL), including -

Tarakihi (nationwide) - DBL reduction from 20 (15 in the South-East) to as few as 3 per person, depending on the option chosen.
Butterfish 7 (east coast South Island and Marlborough) - a new DBL of 10 or 5 per person proposed, at least halving the current limit.

Have your say

The Minister's decisions will determine whether our inshore fisheries recover or continue to decline. You don't need to be an expert to make a submission, a short statement of your view is enough. Submissions close 5 pm, 24 July 2026. Send your submission to FMSubmissions@mpi.govt.nz and don't forget to copy us in at FM@legasea.co.nz.

Want to know more? Read the stock assessment documents below

October sustainability round FNZ webpage

Tarakihi Plenary document, info about stock assessment

Tarakihi review summary document

Tarakihi proposal document

Butterfish proposal

Frequently Asked Qeustions

What is a sustainability round?

Twice a year Fisheries NZ reviews the management for various fish stocks across the country. After the review any changes apply from either 1 April or 1 October. Before they make any changes Fisheries NZ issues a proposal paper and asks for submissions from interested parties, including the public, fishers, Māori interests and environmental interests. Everyone has to respond by a set deadline. These are called "sustainability reviews". Read more.

Who decides which fish stocks are reviewed?

Fisheries New Zealand undertakes scientific stock assessments throughout the year for selected fish stocks. Fisheries NZ prioritises what fish stocks need to be reviewed then propose various actions the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries may want to take to ensure sustainability.

For example, if the assessment shows that abundance is looking good, Fisheries NZ may recommend that the Minister increase commercial catch limits. If populations aren't doing well, they could recommend that catch limits are decreased.

Is there anything sustainable about "sustainability reviews"?

No, it depends on your definition of "sustainable". Under the Quota Management System the stocks that get the most attention are usually the ones that are important to commercial interests. That means most effort is directed to delivering proposals that increase commercial catch limits, or churning out science that supports the maintenance of existing catch limits, even in fish stocks that are clearly depleted.

The reviews do give the public the opportunity to have a say in how the fish stock ought to be managed in the future. This gives everyone a chance to express how fishing has changed in their area and how they would like the fishery to be managed in the future. Read more.

"Demon" trawler finds a new home on the seabed.

After more than three years of planning and preparation, the ex-trawler Twofold Bay now rests on the seafloor off Napier as Hawke's Bay's newest artificial reef.

The sinking itself only took a few minutes. Getting to that point took years.More than 800 volunteer hours went into preparing the vessel to meet strict environmental standards before it could be safely scuttled. Every part of the process had to be carefully planned, approved and carried out.

This project was driven by the Twofold Bay Charitable Trust and LegaSea Hawke's Bay, with invaluable support from Mana Ahuriri, Ngāti Parau Trust, the vessel's donor Rodney Green, Napier Port, local contractors, volunteers, sponsors, regulators and many others who helped get it across the line.

It's a great example of what can happen when a community gets behind a shared goal. Instead of ending up as scrap, the Twofold Bay has been given a second life. Over time, it will become home to marine life and create new opportunities for divers, fishers and the wider Hawke's Bay community.

To everyone who gave their time, expertise or support along the way, thank you. This is something Hawke's Bay can be proud of.

How to Help

Please consider helping fund our fight by donating to LegaSea or becoming a LegaSea Works Partner. Every bit counts.

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Proposed intertidal zone restrictions: Auckland and Coromandel

Photo by Tracy Gay

Rockpools are being stripped bare. Our intertidal coastline is under growing pressure, and we can no longer ignore the damage.

Action from officials is long overdue, and later this year we may finally see management measures implemented to restore life back to our intertidal zone. We want future generations to enjoy the wonders of a coastline teeming with abundance.

Fisheries NZ is currently reviewing submissions on proposals to implement major new restrictions on recreational harvesting of shellfish and invertebrates along Auckland's east and west coast, and the Coromandel coastline.

In June, LegaSea and the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council submitted in response to these complex proposals. You can read our submission here.

Our submission supported a targeted closure to address the depletion and excessive harvesting of rockpool species such as whelks, limpets and catseye. Species like rock lobster, pāua, scallops and squid are already managed under dedicated frameworks or there is no sustainability concern.

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.

These intertidal proposals are just the latest in a growing list of more than 10 applications lodged in 2026 to close sections of New Zealand's coastline in response to depletion.

Closing parts of our coastline is not something to celebrate. Closures are a symptom of management failure.

If we want future generations to enjoy abundant coastlines, we must address the root causes of depletion, not just the symptoms. That means reducing overall fishing pressure, rebuilding local abundance before stocks become depleted, and tackling the sediment and land-based run-off that continues to degrade our coastal habitats.