Marine – Making a positive impact

With another year done, many of us are itching to dust off the fishing rods and flock to the water.

There’s something so calming about breathing in the warm, salty and slightly fishy smelling air. Whether you’re heading out to catch fish for Christmas dinner or simply escaping the chaos, it’s important to remember that our collective actions have real impacts.

While LegaSea has a strong focus on raising public awareness about issues facing our coastal marine environment, we also recognise that every one of us can play a role in restoring abundance. Small changes en masse can have a big impact.

Humans are creatures of habits. It takes around 60 days for a new behaviour to become automatic, giving us enough time this summer to practice new habits that show respect for the ocean that gives us so much.

When was the last time you thought about the fish hooks you use? Research suggests that traditional ‘J’ shaped hooks are more likely to gut-hook or foul-hook snapper. Fish hooked this way are less likely to survive after being released. While survival might not matter if the fish you catch is big enough to take home, it does matter if the fish is too small and must go back.

By switching from a ‘J’ hook to a circle hook, the fish is more likely to be hooked in the lip. This small change dramatically improves survival rates. Inflicting less harm is important so the little fish can continue to grow, produce more snapper and contribute towards sustaining the fishery for the future.

Good handling also matters – wet hands and getting the fish back in the water as soon as possible all help released fish survive.

Another simple habit that leaves a positive impact is reducing waste. This summer, adopt a “keep only what you need” approach. Or, if you can’t eat all the fish you caught, share it with your neighbours.

Have you seen the price of fish in the supermarket lately? Fresh fish goes a long way.

What about the fish heads and frames you usually toss overboard? These are some of the most valued parts of the fish for Māori and Pasifika communities, yet many of us waste 70 per cent of every fish without a second thought. Utilisation is conservation. Sharing the unwanted parts from your freshly caught fish is one of the easiest ways to ensure others enjoy kai moana without killing more fish.

Alongside Matt Watson, LegaSea has relaunched the Free Fish Heads app, a place where you can easily share your unwanted fish heads and frames with people who value them. Download the app https://kaiika.co.nz/freefishheads/ and start sharing today.

Let’s leave a positive impact on and off the water this summer. For those wanting to make that impact last, sign up to receive our LegaSea newsletters to stay informed for more ways to help restore our coastal fisheries: https://legasea.co.nz/support-us/sign-up-2/