LegaSea and the New Zealand Sport 
Fishing Council have consistently 
raised concerns about the declining 
health of the Hauraki Gulf and our 
wider intertidal ecosystems and 
called for stronger protections for 
these vulnerable coastal areas. We’ve 
actively supported community and 
iwi/hapū driven area closures when 
the evidence supports that such 
drastic measures are required.
Since the Sea Change planning 
process in 2016, we have supported 
targeted closures of easily accessible 
low-tide coastal areas that are 
under pressure.  For decades, the 
warning signs have been ignored. 
What we see today is the result 
of years of cumulative pressure 
and neglect.  Poor water quality, 
land-based run-off, and warming 
temperatures are also contributing 
to the decline in abundance.
Ongoing monitoring by local 
councils have highlighted the 
devastating effects of sedimentation, 
extreme weather events and 
warming temperatures have had on 
species such as cockles, green-lipped 
mussels, sea snails, and limpets.
As biodiversity declines, ecosystems 
become less resilient and less able 
to withstand additional pressures.
Action is overdue.
OUR CONCERNS
Fisheries NZ has put forward several 
options ranging in intensity, from 
reduced recreational bag limits 
for shellfish and invertebrates 
through to partial and full closures 
of intertidal harvesting areas.
We welcome efforts to address the 
depletion and excessive harvesting 
of rockpool species such as whelks, 
cat’s-eye, and limpets. However, we 
"Local communities have 
genuine concerns about 
the ongoing depletion 
of rocky shore species 
such as limpets, cat’s eyes, 
whelks, and periwinkles."
Feature
40  FISHING IN GODZONE MAGAZINE

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