b'Editor Matt Hewetson gotbe reviewed in three years. The Feature out in late October to fishHPAs and Seafloor Protection Areas one last time in close around the Aldermen Islands. wont be reviewed until 2050.NOW WHAT?Politicians are now hiding behind the Act, claiming they have done their bit to restore the Marine Park. Reality is, they have again failed to address the root causes of depletion and degradation in the Gulf.Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has already halted plans to restrict trawling in the Hauraki Gulf, despite 84% of Gulf residents supporting the removal of bottom trawling from the Marine Park.The HPAs may have increased the marine protected area in the Marine Park from 6% to 18%. But its not good enough. The Hauraki Gulf seafloor needs 100% protection from destructive fishing methods.As advocates for restored abundance, weve taken some hard knocks, but were still standing. We remain proud of the advocacy, energy, and persistence weve shown over the past decade. The future of our fisheries depends on people who care enough to keep fighting.By December 2025, we expect Shane Jones to propose a nationwide Amendment Bill that could change the way we fish forever. These reforms risk silencing FIGHTING A LOSING BATTLE the root causes of depletion.the public, increasing industrial We continued to hold the line.Where are proposals to addresscatch and exports, and weakening In good faith, the NZSFC andoverfishing and land-based runoff? environmental safeguards.recreational representativesDespite wide-spread publicSubscribe to LegaSea to keep wrote submissions, participated inopposition, all parties in the Houseinformed about how you can stakeholder groups, and providedaccepted the proposals which latermake a real difference. If we evidence at Select Committeebecame the Hauraki Gulf Marinedont make enough noise to be hearings. LegaSea did its bestProtection Act.A last-minuteheard in Wellington, well get to raise public awareness. amendment by the Minister ofmore protections and even The Hauraki Gulf deserves better.Conservation added insult to injury,fewer meaningful changes It deserves the bold vision promisedallowing a handful of commercialto restore abundance.by Sea Change - a future thatring net (gillnet) fishers to target discards destructive methods inkahawai, grey mullet, and trevally inFOR MORE INFO:favour of innovation, sustainability,the HPAs surrounding Kawau Bay,www.legasea.co.nz/and genuine prosperity for allRangitoto and Motatapu Islands. support-us/sign-up-2New Zealanders.Spatial plans andMeanwhile, everyday Kiwis are fishing bans do little to addresslocked out. This amendment will 54FISHING IN GODZONE MAGAZINE'