We oppose proposed amendments to the Fisheries Act 1996 that would remove minimum legal size limits for commercial fishing, and oppose it making it through the readings.

Minimum size limits are essential to ensure fish such as snapper and trevally can reach maturity and reproduce before being harvested. Removing these protections would allow the widespread capture of juvenile fish, putting the long-term sustainability of these species at serious risk.

Snapper, trevally, Kingfish, trawlfish and many other species are not only vital to marine ecosystems, but are also highly valued by recreational fishers, coastal communities, and Māori as a customary food source. Depleting these species threatens both ecological balance and cultural wellbeing.

These proposed changes risk:

- Overharvesting of immature fish before they can breed 

- Long-term decline or collapse of fish populations 

- Reduced access for recreational and customary fishing 

- Damage to marine ecosystems and biodiversity 

Removing minimum size limits will not only reduce fish numbers, but disrupt the balance of entire marine ecosystems. Species like snapper and trevally play important roles in the food web—helping control prey populations and maintain healthy reef and coastal environments. A decline in these species can trigger cascading effects, leading to ecosystem instability and reduced resilience to environmental pressures such as climate change and pollution.

These changes will also disproportionately impact low-income families and whānau who rely on kaimoana as an accessible and affordable source of food. As fish stocks decline, it becomes harder to gather enough kai, increasing food insecurity and placing additional financial pressure on households already struggling with the cost of living. What has long been a reliable, sustainable food source risks becoming scarce or inaccessible.

This will have lasting impacts on our tamariki and mokopuna. Future generations may grow up without the opportunity to experience the rich biodiversity of our oceans, to learn customary practices, or to gather kai as their tūpuna once did. The loss of healthy fish populations is not just environmental—it is cultural, affecting identity, knowledge, and connection to the moana.

As kaitiaki, we have a responsibility to ensure our mokopuna inherit oceans that are abundant, not depleted. If these protections are removed, we risk passing on scarcity instead of sustenance, and disconnection instead of tradition.

These changes raise serious concerns under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The Crown has a responsibility to actively protect Māori interests, including customary fishing rights and the sustainable management of taonga species. Removing protections that sustain fish populations undermines these obligations and the principles of partnership, protection, and participation.

Healthy fisheries depend on precaution, sustainability, and respect for both science and mātauranga Māori. Once fish stocks are depleted, recovery can take decades—or may not occur at all.

We call on the Government to:

- Retain minimum legal size limits for commercial fishing 

- Uphold its obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi 

- Prioritise long-term sustainability over short-term economic gain 

- Engage in meaningful consultation with iwi, scientists, and the public 

Our oceans are a shared taonga. We must protect them for our mokopuna and future generations.

Sign this petition to protect the future of Aotearoa’s fisheries, ecosystems, and biodiversity.