LegaSea

Kia ora Friend,

As we move towards late summer and fishing around our coastal waters reaches its zenith for the year, the state of our fisheries becomes a more heated topic. Whether around the BBQ or the boat ramps, now is a good time to reflect how our fish stocks have changed over the years. While many fish stocks are rebounding, there are more that are declining and need urgent intervention.

We want to stop the decline, and we want to see an increase of fish abundance in our waters. That way we all win.

So when you're talking to your mates about the fact you haven't seen a john dory or a good school of kahawai for a long time, urge them to get onboard with LegaSea. Sign up to our database and sign our Rescue Fish petition.

2021 Summer photo competition winners

Our photo competition has ended, and we've had some fantastic photo entries of what looks like an enjoyable summer for everyone. Thank you everyone who has supported us by sending their photos - Our voting panel struggled to choose between all the amazing photos, but we came to decisions eventually.

Here are the winners of each category:

Marine life in their natural environment winner - Jacob Kohn 'Trevally'

Lifestyle shot winner - Wendy Parsons 'Evening Paddle at Gooseberry Beach'

People preparing and eating seafood winner - Sarah Hawkes 'Harry smokes his own catch for dinner'

Landscape coastal shot winner - Paul Mitchell 'Dramatic Fiordland'

Chesters Fanatical Fishos run hot

For the past 31 years in West Auckland the Fanatical Fishos fishing competition run by Chesters Plumbing and Bathroom Centre New Lynn has generously raised funds for Coastguard and recreational fishing. This year the returns were impressive.

Each year plumbers and their crews compete hard for two days seeking that one fish that will win the grand prize for the best presented fish. The spare fish parts leftover from filleting went to The Kai Ika Project.

All the fish are sold at auction with people paying generously to buy back their own fish or someone's catch. All funds raised during the auction is given to the local Manukau Coastguard. Grant Chester matched that donation with a generous contribution of $6000 to LegaSea.

This year was also the first without Paul Barnes as the weighmaster. His passing in late 2020 left many of us wondering how the Fishos day would go. With the help of his family, the weigh-in and judging was a sun shining success.

LegaSea Hawke's Bay

Recently our LegaSea Hawke's Bay crew set up a stall supporting the Rescue Fish Campaign at the Your Solutions MegaFish Competition. The event was held at Hawkes Bay Sports Fishing Club at the beginning of February.

Over a few days between fishing and weigh-ins, our team at the stall managed to gather 522 people to support the Rescue Fish petition, and raised an outstanding $2,005 to help support our Rescue Fish campaign. We wholeheartedly thank these wonderful anglers and visitors joining us in showing the Government that New Zealanders want more fish in the water.

To see all the cool projects and campaigns that LegaSea Hawke's Bay is involved in, check out the LegaSea Hawke's Bay webpage.

Fisheries submissions update

A major review of catch limits in some important fisheries has just been completed. LegaSea worked with our New Zealand Sport Fishing Council fisheries team and other representative organisations to complete submissions in response to the proposals. David Parker, the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries is due to announce his decisions in March. Standby for that news.

Elephant fish 7 encompasses the Marlborough Sounds, Golden and Tasman Bays, and the west coast of the South Island. We submitted in support of the status quo, no commercial catch increase, and application of a minimum size limit for commercial catches. https://www.nzsportfishing.co.nz/fisheries/species/elephant-fish/tac-review-elephant-fish-7-2020/

Yellow-eyed mullet 9 spans the northwest coast of the North Island. We submitted in support of the most conservative outcome, a 66% reduction to the commercial catch limit. https://www.nzsportfishing.co.nz/fisheries/species/yellow-eyed-mullet/yellow-eyed-mullet-tac-review-2021/

Flatfish 2 includes the east and west coasts of the lower North Island. Of the 3 options proposed by Fisheries NZ, we submitted in favour of the moderate option 2. We also recommended the Minister splits the large management area into smaller units with revised commercial catch limits. https://www.nzsportfishing.co.nz/fisheries/species/flatfish/flatfish-2-tac-review-2021/

Red rock lobster and packhorse crayfish nationwide. We recommended more conservative, lower commercial catch limits in the crayfish stocks from Northland to Canterbury. We also supported a modest increase in commercial limits for packhorse crayfish. We reiterated our call for the Minister to revoke the concessions that permit commercial fishers to take male crayfish smaller than the minimum recreational size limit for certain months of the year. https://www.nzsportfishing.co.nz/fisheries/species/crayfish/crayfish-tac-review-2021/

From the 'It can't be true' folder - Forfeited vessel stays with Sanford

This week the Christchurch District Court ordered Sanford to forfeit a $20 million vessel to the Crown after being found guilty of trawling in a defined marine protected area off Stewart Island. A fine of $36,000 has been paid which we understand is covered by insurance.

MPI has handed the $20M vessel back to Sanford on the understanding that ownership could be returned to Sanford after payment of a 'redemption fee'.

Last year Sealord forfeited a $21M vessel and had it returned simply after paying a $70,000 redemption fee.

Where is the justice for all New Zealanders? Boy racers get their cars crushed for street offences. Recreational fishers can lose their vessel, vehicle and gear if convicted of serious offences.

The system is clearly warped when fishing corporates can commit serious offences and get away with a flesh wound. The Courts must be gutted.