Fishing in New Zealand: A Current Snapshot, Sustainability & A Hopeful Path for Aotearoa’s Oceans
Fishing is woven into who we are in Aotearoa - from whānau snapper trips on the weekend to the fleets that harvest and send kai moana overseas as one of our leading exports. But here’s the reality: commercial boats reportedly bring in over 98% of our annual catch, fragile habitats are under pressure, and the traditions we treasure risk being lost if we don’t start fishing with more care.
This blog looks at the big picture (commercial vs recreational catch, bottom trawling, new protections for the Hauraki Gulf) and the personal (Tim’s “fish with respect” philosophy, my own “reduce what you consume” lens, and how communities can lead change). You’ll also find practical ways to shop, fish, and act more sustainably - plus a few petitions you can support to push for stronger protections.
At its heart, it’s hopeful. Because with respect, better policy, and local action, there’s no reason why our great grandchildren shouldn’t be able to walk down to the beach at sunset, cast a line, and bring home dinner too. Let’s begin!
Image of ocean ecosystem - Blue Corner Marine Research
I live by the sea, and like most Kiwis, I feel deeply connected to it. Salt water feels like home. I grew up on the Hibiscus Coast surrounded by beautiful beaches, swimming, windsurfing with my dad, and now I’m married to Tim, a fishing enthusiast. Tim often heads out in his sea kayak, paddling into the bay in search of a few fish for dinner. Other times, he’ll pull on his waterproof overalls and wade out from the shore, casting his line as the sun sets. The goal is always the same: catching a couple of fish, spending time in nature, and eating kai moana – food from the sea.
For me, there’s something wholesome about that image. Tim returning home, filleting a fish on the bench, and me cooking it in garlic and butter twenty minutes later. It feels ancient, natural - something our ancestors would have done and something I hope our grandchildren will still be able to do.
But when you zoom out, that simple picture gets complicated. Reports of declining fish stocks, the scars of bottom trawling, and the presence of massive commercial fleets paint a sobering backdrop. Around 600,000 recreational fishers - about 13% of New Zealand’s population- head out on roughly 1.2 million trips each year, contributing an estimated NZ$1.7 billion in total economic activity (NIWA, Fishries NZ). That’s no small footprint. And then there’s what we don’t always see: I’ve watched David Attenborough’s Ocean and felt my stomach drop at the images of trawlers dragging nets across the seabed. It’s devastating to know this is happening in parts of Aotearoa’s waters, including the Hauraki Gulf. If we want to keep enjoying kai moana for generations to come, we need to face this reality head-on.
So let’s talk about the fishing industry in New Zealand. Who are the players? What impact do they have? And what can we, as individuals and communities, do to make sure our great-grandchildren can still walk down to the beach at sunset, cast in a line, and come home with dinner?
Tim’s fishing philosophy: “Fish with Respect”
Tim grew up fishing in his family’s little tinny with a five-horse Evinrude motor. The family would putt out in their boat just before sunset and go as far as they could before their little engine overheated. They’d drop lines, catch enough fish to fill the chilly bin, then motor (or row) back in once the engine had cooled down. When fishing that same bay now… Tim is struck by how (anecdotally) far fewer fish there are.
But regardless of how many he catches, the lesson his dad taught him remains: always let the first keeper go. A gesture of respect, a mindset of abundance, and a gift back to Tangaroa.
That ethic has only deepened. These days, Tim also releases the big breeders - the hefty fish that would contribute most to the next generation. “That’s a great breeding fish,” he says. “Be free and make lots more babies!” The thrill of the catch is still there, but the win is no longer the kill; it’s the process and the respect. Online, there’s even a movement celebrating this - the hashtag #NoReleaseNoGlory.
Commercial Fishing Boat - Science Learning Hub
Who’s taking what: Commercial vs Recreational Fishing in NZ
Every year in Aotearoa, recreational fishers land about 5,500 tonnes of fish (2022-23 National Panel Survey). That includes the whole spectrum; people casting from rocks, diving for crayfish, paddling kayaks, or heading out in small boats. On the commercial side, the number dwarfs that: over 338,000 tonnes of seafood was harvested from our oceans in 2022–23 and that is excluding aquaculture (Fisheries New Zealand Report 2022-23).
Going by those numbers, recreational fishing represents only around 1.5–2% of the total catch by weight. Commercial fishing in New Zealand makes up the other 98%. In pure tonnage, the commercial fleet dominates, but recreational fishing still has outsized cultural, social, and ecological influence - especially along coasts and inshore areas where families, communities, and small boats meet the same fish stocks targeted by large vessels.
Large exporters like Sealord are aware of these stats, and in general, do a fantastic job. However, you can see through some of their marketing campaigns (see below), they have a financial interest in New Zealand having less restrictions on bottom trawling and strict quota limits.
A marketing campaign from Sealord - New Zealand’s largest commercial fishery and exporter.
What we know… and what we don’t
Unlike counting sheep on land, measuring fish in the sea is complicated. There’s no simple “total biomass” figure of how many tonnes of fish swim in New Zealand waters. What we do know is that the Quota Management System (QMS) sets limits to protect spawning stock, and NIWA reports that about 83% of assessed fish stocks are sitting above the sustainability threshold. If that’s true… that’s encouraging.
But methods matter. Bottom trawling still accounts for nearly 70% of commercial catch, and while it’s efficient, it drags heavy gear across the seafloor (MPI). It damages habitats and catches species it wasn’t aiming for, massively disrupting the surrounding marine ecosytsems in the process (Greenpeace). Then there’s certification. The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) blue tick is useful; it signals a fishery is independently assessed for stock health, management, and wider ecosystem impacts. But it isn’t flawless. Critics say it doesn’t always reflect habitat damage or bycatch (Seafood Source). Better than nothing? Absolutely. Perfect? No way.
So the big picture is this: New Zealand fisheries management is globally respected, but that doesn’t mean it’s sustainable enough. We should feel proud, but we can’t get complacent.
Advertising material from the David Attenborough documentary “Ocean” - Showing bottom trawling in action
Artists idea of bottom trawling in action - Marine Conservation Institute
The unseen ocean
From the beach, the ocean looks infinite - blue horizons, waves, yachts. But beneath the surface, it’s not as abundant as it once was. Friends of Tim remember when crayfish and scallops were easy to find within minutes of launching a boat near Whangaparāoa. Now? Almost none. Wiped out by overfishing and habitat loss.
That’s the tension: the ocean feels vast, yet its resources are fragile. We need to hold both truths - wonder at its expansive beauty, and hold honesty about its limits.
Map of proposed marine protection areas - Hauraki Gulf Protections Bill
The Hauraki Gulf: marine protections explained
If you live around Tāmaki Makaurau, you’ll know the Hauraki Gulf has been front and centre in New Zealand’s ocean policy. The new fisheries bill introduces 19 protected areas:
12 High Protection Areas (HPAs), where no commercial or recreational fishing can occur (with limited customary fishing by authorisation).
5 Seafloor Protection Areas (SPAs), where methods like trawling, dredging, and seining are banned, but non-bottom methods can continue.
2 extensions to existing marine reserves at Goat Island and Cathedral Cove (Department of Conservation).
This is a step forward. It tries to balance mana whenua rights, biodiversity recovery, and livelihoods. Is it perfect? Again… no. But it’s a start. And the real test will be enforcement - whether these zones become living protections, not just pretty maps.
This is progress, but hopefully only the beginning of a wider ocean conservation movement in New Zealand… or am I dreaming?
A Festival of the Ocean
Tim and I have a bigger dream bubbling away: a Festival of the Ocean in Whangaparāoa. Picture this: beach clean-ups where the rubbish collected is transformed into art and displayed at the local library. Ocean documentaries screened at the cinema, families filling the rows with popcorn in hand. Free community events spilling into parks, led by scouts, schools, and local clubs. Charter fishers standing alongside marine biologists, telling raw stories about how abundant the sea once was and what it’s like now. Iwi leaders sharing legends and knowledge of the moana under the stars. Local businesses, volunteers, and scientists rolling up their sleeves to build small artificial reefs and restore habitats together.
We imagine something that feels like a yearly heartbeat for the Coast - a weekend (and eventually, a series of festivals) where people don’t just come to mourn what’s been lost, but to celebrate what’s still here and to spark change. Floating stages, sea-shanty singalongs, kai moana feasts, and workshops that invite every generation to connect with the ocean in their own way.
Ambitious, yes. But it’s rooted in hope: people care. Communities thrive when they come together around something bigger than themselves. And if there’s anywhere to dream about weaving art, culture, and marine conservation in NZ into one living, breathing festival… it’s here, on the Coast.
If this idea is lighting you up, get in touch. Perhaps you have some good connections, resources or wanted to volunteer - now is a great time to connect, as we are in the early stages of this project.
Final thoughts
This one blog won’t solve everything, but it can start conversations. The goal isn’t to guilt anyone into giving up fish altogether. It’s to help more of us fish and shop with respect, so the next time you buy dinner, order fish and chips, or head out with a rod, you do so with knowledge of the bigger picture.
Because I want my daughter, Orchard, to grow up in a world where she can still walk down to the beach at sunset, cast in, and come home with dinner.
How to Fish, Shop, and Act Sustainably in Aoteroa New Zealand
The good news is, we all have a role to play in protecting Aotearoa’s oceans - whether we’re shoppers, fishers, or simply people who care.
As consumers
Every purchase is a vote. Ask your fishmonger: What species is this? Where was it caught? How was it caught? Build a relationship with your local fishmonger, use the Forest & Bird Best Fish Guide to steer your choices, and look for the MSC blue tick as a quick reference in supermarkets (keeping in mind it’s not a perfect guarantee). Where possible, cut back on how much fish you buy. Less demand means less pressure on the ocean.
As recreational fishers
Adopt Tim’s motto: respect the catch. Release the first keeper, let the big breeders go, and handle fish gently - wet hands, quick releases, circle hooks. Take only what you’ll eat and share; recreational fishing should nourish, not deplete. The free NZ Fishing Rules app (available for both Apple and Android) is another great tool - especially for size limits and seasonal closures. And when you bring fish home, honour it: cook nose-to-tail (some great ideas here), or share frames and heads through Kai Ika.
As citizens
Ocean health is shaped by policy. The Hauraki Gulf Marine Protection Bill is just one example of legislation where public input really matters. Stay updated through groups like LegaSea and the Live Ocean Foundation, write submissions, and keep pressure on government to follow through with monitoring and enforcement.
Want to take action right now? Add your voice to active petitions and campaigns:
Change.org grassroots petition – Ban bottom trawling, protect NZ’s oceans
Deep Sea Conservation Coalition / Oceans5 project – Ending bottom trawling on seamounts
Even small actions - signing, sharing, showing up - remind decision-makers that ocean protection is a priority for New Zealanders.
As communities
Change lasts when it’s local. Schools, Iwi, and clubs can co-lead rāhui, build artificial reefs, or host events like the Festival of the Ocean we’re dreaming of here in Whangaparāoa. Community action makes conservation visible and fun.
A protest in 2023 to ban bottom trawling - Trade a boat