Pressure builds in the Hauraki Gulf
The debate surrounding the Hauraki Gulf reaches an important moment this week with the first ever One Ocean Protest taking place on Saturday. The event is expected to gather a wide mix of recreational fishers, boaties, divers, paddlers and small scale commercial fishers who share one message: the rules must be fair and the Gulf deserves better protection.
Anyone wanting to take part, watch from shore or simply stay informed can find the details on the One Ocean Protest Facebook page.
One Ocean Protest: recreational fishers rally to defend fair access in the Hauraki Gulf
This protest reflects growing frustration around bottom contact fishing methods, proposed exemptions in new Gulf legislation and the long term decline of local fish stocks. The push is no longer coming from one group. It is coming from the wider coastal community.
LegaSea: pro fishers, pro community, anti destructive methods
LegaSea has reinforced its position in recent days. They are not anti commercial. They are anti destructive, anti overfishing, anti mass harvest, and anti a system that advantages quota owners over the people who actually fish.
Most inshore commercial fishers lease quota at prices that leave them with slim or no profit. They pay before leaving the dock. They shoulder rising fuel, wages and compliance costs. They often carry all the risk while corporate quota holders collect stable income in the background.
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LegaSea argues this imbalance harms both the fishery and the people working within it.
The bycatch issue: a design flaw, not a mistake
Bycatch and discards have become flashpoints this year, especially around the Gulf. LegaSea says the problem is not careless skippers. It is the unavoidable result of mass harvest methods like trawling, seining and dredging.
These methods do not select their catch. They take juveniles, non target species and vulnerable species in the same sweep. Under the QMS, landing bycatch costs money. Discarding it means survival. The incentive is broken because the underlying system is broken.
Why the first One Ocean Protest matters
Saturday’s protest is significant because it shows the public wants the Gulf managed for recovery rather than convenience. Organisers say the aim is simple: stop the exemptions, stop the loopholes, and treat recreational and commercial fishers fairly.
It is a chance for everyday New Zealanders to show the strength of their concern, not as political activists but as people who love the Gulf and want its recovery to be real.
Ollie Craig: the real divide is not between fishers
Ollie Craig from Primal Pursuit captured the sentiment neatly. The real divide is not recreational versus commercial. It is a system that has encouraged conflict while eroding trust and degrading the fishery.
Most small scale commercial operators want the same outcome recreational fishers want: more fish, healthy ecosystems, clear rules, and a future that does not depend on loopholes.
The path ahead
The momentum behind the Gulf’s recovery is rising. LegaSea is continuing to advocate for its Rescue Fish framework, which would end destructive methods, prioritise local seafood access and repurchase quota from corporate holders.
The public conversation is shifting from concern to action. Saturday’s protest is a sign of that shift.
For those who want to participate or show support, details for the first One Ocean Protest are available on the One Ocean Protest Facebook page.
