Environment

Spiny rock lobster ban from Ohao Point to Cape Rodney starts 1 April 2026, connecting to the Hauraki Gulf closure. New bag limits apply nationwide.

Boaties share their love of fishing and why it’s so important to ‘protect our paradise’. By keeping hulls, anchors, chains and gear clean, we can all do our bit to stop the spread of invasive pests.

Brendan Lockhead never grew up around boats. Then an impulse buy at 30 changed everything. Now he's chasing snapper in the Hauraki Gulf and says NZ fishing is hard to beat.

New ban on gathering shellfish, seaweed and rockpool life now in force on Hauraki Gulf coast north of Auckland. Fines up to $100,000. Check the rules.

Auckland boatie David Yeong shares his love of fishing and why NZ's incredible waters are worth protecting.

Hauraki Gulf fisheries closure: 2-year ban on seaweed and invertebrate harvesting begins March 2026 across Ōmaha Bay, Kawau Bay, and Whangaparāoa Peninsula.

Taupō trout fishery sees 4x spike in violations. DOC Rangers issue warning as 40 offences detected, with $400 fines for unlicensed fishing and rule-breaking.

Major changes to NZ's environmental laws could affect fishing access, water quality and coastal areas. Submissions close 13 Feb 2026. Make your voice heard.

Two-year fishing closure off Port Napier aims to restore taonga species and grow a thriving reef ecosystem through community-led conservation.

NZ Government announces major Fisheries Act reforms to boost sustainable growth, improve decision-making, and protect fishers’ privacy.

New biosecurity rules are in place at Hauturu o Toi Little Barrier Island, making it illegal to anchor anywhere around the island.

The government’s Fisheries Reform 2025 may impact your success as a recreational fisher—have your say before it's too late!

Fishery officers will be inspecting catch bags and bins all weekend as the blue cod season opens throughout the Marlborough region.

Fishery officers were called in by Hawkes Bay police yesterday after they stopped a car with a big haul of pāua inside.

Fisheries New Zealand is seeking your ideas and feedback on proposed changes to the blue cod (rāwaru) seasonal closure in the Marlborough Sounds (Te Tauihu-o-te-waka) to reduce fishing pressure.

New Zealand Food Safety has some fast facts to share about toxic shellfish poisoning and how to keep yourself, your whanau and friends safe.

Five of Westland’s special protected areas celebrate their 10th anniversary this month.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) appreciates the help of the Kawau community in successfully freeing a juvenile pygmy blue whale that had wedged itself underneath a private wharf on Kawau Island on Monday, and is asking the public for sightings of the whale, approximately 14-15 meters in length - Image credit DOC

An Auckland poacher who sold or attempted to sell fish he caught illegally 35 times, has been fined $15,000.

DOC is urging whitebaiters to have fun down at the river, follow the rules, and keep themselves and freshwater habitats safe as the whitebaiting season kicks off.

Fish trading company fined $360,000, employee jailed for 3 years 7 months.

Application for a mātaitai reserve surrounding Moutohorā Island (Whale Island) and the Rurima Island Group, Bay of Plenty

Whitebait species inanga/atutahi in the Whanganui River have more space to spawn thanks to restoration at Te Ao Hou marae and neighbouring properties in Aramoho.

In this update we report on the first meeting of the Exotic Caulerpa National Advisory Group; flag time extensions to Controlled Area Notices; and outline the actions in response to a new detection in Omaha Cove/Leigh Harbour.

Fisheries New Zealand invites written submissions in response to the request from anyone who has an interest in the species concerned or in the effects of fishing in the area concerned.

In this update we look at progress in the Exotic Caulerpa Accelerated Programme and advise on two new locations of exotic caulerpa in the Hauraki Gulf.

The recreational pāua fishery along the Kaikōura coast opens today for a limited 2-month season.

Alert include bivalve shellfish such as mussels, oysters, tuatua, pipi, toheroa, cockles, and scallops, as well as pūpū (cat’s eyes), Cook’s turban and kina (sea urchin)

"When he reached the Waitui Bay area, he removed the GPR equipment, placed it in waterproof bags, attaching them to fishing buoys, tied to a rope and anchor. There is no record of where he went to from that point."

Some information from Biosecurity New Zealand on how you can protect the coastal waters we all love from the invasive seaweed exotic caulerpa

Meet the Kai Ika Project - A collaborative effort by the Outboard Boating Club of Auckland, Papatūānuku Kōkiri Marae, LegaSea, and the NZ Sport Fishing Council, redistributing previously wasted fish parts to appreciative communities, with a recent expansion to Wellington led by Chris Jupp.

Temporary biosecurity measures are in place for popular Rotorua trout fishing lake from Sunday the 1st of October

New Zealand Fish & Game communications update for fresh water anglers and licence holders on the potential closure of a Rotorua district lake due to invasive gold clams.

Environment court ruling updates no-take/no fishing regulations in Deep Water Cove to Oke Bay, and Mimiwhangata plus trawling and seining bans around Cape Brett

A press release from the Beehive outlining plans to ban bottom trawling from the Hauraki Gulf plus notification of the coming public submissions process.

Did you know that a big 70cm snapper can produce the same amount of eggs as 36 legal sized 30cm fish? Marine reserves are more and more becoming the last option we have to preserve certain fish stocks, given that limits put on commercial and recreational fishing are slow to change due to debatable political and economic reasons. For one, it lends sense to the action of putting the big fish back into the breeding system at least. Take a look at a few research insights about how we can better protect marine biodiversity, presented by Nick Shears from Leigh Marine laboratory.

Eleventh Annual Ball is ON. YOU CAN HELP!

Suzuki Develops the World's First Micro-Plastic Collecting Device for Outboard Motors: Suzuki Motor Corporation has developed the world’s first* Micro-Plastic Collecting Device which can be installed on outboard motors. Marine plastic waste has become a significant environmental issue in the recent years and a huge amount of such wastes that has not been gathered correctly flow into the ocean. They are then broken down into micro-plastic under the natural environment and their impact on the ecological system is also becoming a concern. To tackle these issues, we focused on the structure of the outboard motor, which pumps up tons of seawater to cool the engine and then returned to the ocean. We developed a collecting device which collects micro-plastic waste by utilizing the returning water. Through this device, micro-plastic waste around the water surfaces can be collected just by running the boat.

The new Motiti Protection Area comes into effect on 11 August 2021, creating three protection areas around Motiti Island where the taking of all plants and animals (including fish and shellfish) will be prohibited. To protect the reef systems, anchoring on these reefs will also be prohibited. This is to protect indigenous biodiversity and acknowledge the significant marine, landscape and cultural values in the area. Those three areas comprise of Ōtaiti (Astrolabe Reef); including Te Papa (Brewis Shoal), Te Porotiti, and O karapu Reef, Motuhaku Island (Schooner Rocks) and Motunau Island (Plate Island).

What's the real cost of the way we are fishing in Aotearoa? Who's winning? Who's losing? And will there be enough fish for our grandchildren? A documentary from acclaimed filmmaker Mike Bhana and Wild Film, that examines how effective NZ's Quota Management System has really been and what is the REAL cost to our marine environment.

In June, Fisheries New Zealand and the Department of Conservation announced decisions on a revised Hector’s and Māui dolphins Threat Management Plan.

Well here's something to really occupy the bored fisho in lockdown or when the weather is driving you crazy. Environmentally, aesthetically pleasing, super-camo fishing sinkers made from river stones.

The most significant change ever to the way sea-run salmon are managed in NZ has been proposed, to help rebuild Canterbury’s wild sea-run salmon population. In co-operative decisions, the Central South Island Fish and Game Council (CSIFGC) and North Canterbury Fish and Game Council (NCFGC) have formally resolved that a sea-run salmon "season bag limit" regime should be implemented across both regions. Both Councils have jointly agreed to recommend this new tool, to restore the resilience of wild salmon populations. Fish and Game New Zealand will now seek Government regulations to implement this proposal. The size of the season bag limit will be reviewed annually, based on where the size of the spawning population sits within the range of spawning thresholds.

Faced with continual decline in the sea run salmon fishery, the two Canterbury Fish & Game regions have voted this week to align most of their salmon regulations.