The third reading of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Protection Bill, giving the go-ahead for area closures in the Hauraki Gulf is expected this week. It’s unclear at this stage when the proposed closures will come into effect, most likely not until early 2025. So for now, you can still fish in your favourite place around the Gulf, but take a picture because it may be the last time you do so. Gotta keep the memory alive.
It’s important for the young ones in your life to understand that there was a time when fisheries managers were committed to ensuring the Gulf and fish populations were healthy enough so that families could choose where to fish closer to home.
Now we face a future of commercial-only fishing zones because officials are bending to economic interests in favour of public access. And they won’t listen to our calls for holistic management of our prized waters.
Given solid public support, LegaSea will continue to promote adequate marine protection and precautionary catch limits so future generations can enjoy the bounty of the Gulf.
