b'Editorial Digital Issue #60 - 2025FISHING IN GODZONE Issue #60COVER PHOTO A stunning mahimahi caught by Richard Leaning on a live mackerel onboard Epic Adventures. Photo: Owen WillsEDITOR AT LARGE Mathew HewetsonWRITERS & CONTRIBUTORS Scott Cushman, Dan Westerkamp, DESIGN Blockstart The Aldermen Islands andwww.blockstart.co.nzsurrounding waters shown in thePUBLISHER background are being proposedMarlin Marketing Limited to be off limits for anglers underMathew Hewetson the new Hauraki Gulf Marine022 355 0588 Protection bill extension. mathew@marlinmarketing.co.nzT he Hauraki Gulf Marineof the Hauraki Gulf, but that is anotherFishing In Godzone is subject Park Act was passed backdebate.We can all agree that successive in 2000, with the parkenvironmental reports have shown the covering an area of moreGulf is in serious decline and many fishto copyright in its entirety.The contents may not be than 1.2 million hectares instocks are depleted.We as anglers wantreproduced in any form, in whole the Hauraki Gulf, Waitemata Harbour,to help and see fish stocks return toor in part, without the written permission of the publishers. All Firth of Thames and the east coasthealthy positions, but most recreationalcopy, photos or other material of the Coromandel Peninsula.Therefishos are disappointed and amazed thatforwarded to the magazine are more than 50 islands withinin the proposed action plans, nothingwill be assumed intended for publication unless clearly the park, many of which are publicwas included to remove from the Haurakilabelled not for publication.conservation lands and waters. Gulf the ongoing destructive fishingOpinions expressed from such content are not necessarily Currently, there is a Governmentpractices such as bottom trawling,those of the publisher.Hauraki Gulf/Tikapa Moana Marinescallop dredging and Danish seining. ISSN 23821655Protection Bill proposing 19 newThere has been a recent submissionfishingingodzone.co.nzmarine protected areas (MPAs) for theorganised by the NZ Sport Fishing/fishingingodzoneHauraki Gulf Marine Park. This includesCouncil and LegaSea to withdraw the extensions to two existing marineproposed HPAs around the Aldermens reserves, 5 seafloor protection areasand Slipper Island, and this closed in (SPAs) and 12 high protection areaslate March.We hope it makes those in (HPAs).Included in these 12 HPAs itparliament take notice and we see some proposes high-protection fishing areas forcommon sense given, or this decision Slipper Island and the Aldermen Islands. will have a devastating effect on peoples If these pass, it will lock anglers out oflives in the Coromandel and further around 280 square kilometres of ocean! afield in Godzone.This could also open These islands and their surroundingthe door for more HPAs throughout waters are very popular fishingthe country, and recreational anglers destinations off the east coast ofwill again get another raw deal the Coromandel, it will affect localwhile Minister Shane Jones looks fishing clubs/competitions, charterafter the big seafood companies businesses and coastal communitieslooking to sell more fish offshore.with no access for taking kaimoana. Mathew Hewetson Editor at largeI cant see how these islands are part 6FISHING IN GODZONE MAGAZINE'