A fresh development has emerged from the One Ocean Protest movement, and it carries real weight for anyone who fishes or spends time on the water. The Government has opened a short public-submission period on proposals that would allow commercial sale of marlin and remove long-standing protections from a group of vulnerable reef fish species. Submissions close on 28 November, giving New Zealanders just a few days to respond.
The update follows Sunday’s meeting between the Minister and representatives from the recreational and public sector. Those who attended described the discussion as constructive. It also reinforced the strong public interest sparked by Saturday’s One Ocean Protest, which saw hundreds of boats, trailers, utes, and fishers converge along the Auckland waterfront. The turnout made an impression, and it appears to have played a role in pushing the issue back under the spotlight.
The most pressing concerns centre on two proposals from Fisheries New Zealand’s wider review of 19 regulation changes. One would allow commercial fishers to keep and sell marlin that are dead when caught. Marlin have always been treated as a non-commercial species in New Zealand. Even if caught dead, they must currently be released. The practice has been a cornerstone of game-fishing culture for decades and a point of pride for clubs and anglers across the country.
The second proposal would allow commercial landing of 19 reef species taken as by-catch by trawl, Danish seine, and bottom-longline gear. The list includes red moki, red pigfish, and boarfish. These fish have been protected from commercial exploitation for many years because of their vulnerability to depletion and their high value to recreational fishers and coastal communities. Many are slow-growing, site-attached, or important in local reef ecology. Once numbers fall, they do not bounce back quickly.
The One Ocean Protest group and LegaSea operate independently, yet both organisations oppose the two proposals. LegaSea has created an online submission tool that allows the public to respond in under three minutes. It outlines the concerns in plain language and provides space for personal comments. The tool covers only the two most urgent proposals. Anyone wanting to comment on the full package of 19 regulation changes can do so through a separate Fisheries New Zealand form.
Early signs suggest a surge of interest from the recreational community. The protest organisers have told supporters that the next three days are critical and are encouraging people to share the submission link through comments rather than direct posts, which helps avoid reach penalties on social platforms. They have also hinted that the Minister’s engagement on Sunday reflected the strength of the community response.
Marlin, in particular, hold enormous value as a tourism draw and a cultural icon in New Zealand’s sportfishing story. A rule change that allows commercial sale of dead marlin, even unintentionally caught, could reshape that identity.
With the clock running down, recreational fishers, boaties, and coastal residents now have a short window to make their views known. The submission link is available through LegaSea, with further resources on the Ministry’s consultation page.
If this affects you, now is the moment to speak up.
