I’m not usually one to have a Karen moment but here it is.

It appears that whoever administers Legasea's Facebook page has taken steps to block me from viewing & commenting on the page, without any prior warning or explanation as to why. I have emailed asking for an explanation and to date have yet to have a reply, hence my Karen rant.     It seems anti free speech has made its way into the Legasea organisation and when comments from people that don’t align to their agenda they are either blocked, hidden or deleted. I can attest to this because I have had some of my comments deleted over the years.

I suspect that some of my comments do not sit well with Legasea's anti-commercial agenda they are constantly campaigning on and yes some comments might be a dig at them but for the most part any comment is in opposition to what I feel is misinformation by them or my own view point.  

I do wonder if this anti-commercial campaign being posted by Legasea’s admin isn’t in fact more of the individual’s personal opinions under the guise of Legasea that gives them a platform to promote their opinions.

After all if you were to read some of their bio’s it would appear that their only claim to fame is a social media presence and in my opinion these young people who make up the Legasea team gleam their information from what they read and have no real world knowledge of what truly goes on.

I stopped supporting Legasea a long time ago as it didn’t take me long to realise that this organisation is no different to any other advocacy groups such as Greenpeace, Forest & Bird.  As with these groups who for example, campaign to make dairy farmers out to be villains, Legasea is doing much the same towards the commercial fishing sector. Posts on topics such land run off, climate factors or even the impact recreational play on our fisheries do not feature for discussion and of course the one thing no-one wants to talk about and that’s customary, somehow this is a taboo topic, preferring to focus on the commercial sector.                        While I agree that an organisation like Legasea is warranted on behalf of the recreational community the stance Legasea has taken towards the commercial sector is not helpful in order to have frank and open dialogue, what is it they are afraid of in blocking people who voice their opinion after all isn’t this just what Legasea is doing, voicing recreational opinion.

No doubt some would say I’m pro commercial given that I started out commercial fishing when I left school but that not the case, I just don’t see that this anti commercial campaign will get recreational anywhere. There is this constant us vs them situation going on across all platforms of social media and it not helpful to any sector by where one lot blames the other and vice versa.                                                                                                    

While Legasea does offer up some good causes such as their Kai-Ika project they let themselves down with the constant anti-commercial rhetoric. Legasea will have you believe that commercial and their methods are outdated & destructive yet in the case of the Kai-Ika project they are more than happy to accept unwanted fish frames for distribution to the needy from commercial fishing companies using a variety of methods, some Legasea deem destructive, I would see this as rather hypocritical.

While they say they are opposed to certain methods used by commercial, many commercial fishermen don’t see it that way but rather an attacked on them personally. Many commercial fishermen sick of this constant anti-commercial sentiment, some which is ill-informed & misleading do post comments in reply but are quickly shut down with carefully worded comments and backed up by often old outdated information.                                  

Legasea followers are none the wiser and are soon drawn into the conversations by where their comments soon become worse than what Legasea has to say, with some of it very degrading, especially if you are a commercial fishermen reading it. The Legasea team are very good at lighting the fire all the while letting their followers keep it stoked without intervention but will intervene if it’s a commercial led comment.

Legasea will also have you believe that NIWA’s surveys into the recreational sector is robust and accurate yet in the same breath dispute that commercial landings aren’t. There is only one sector that records their catch and it isn’t recreational, recreational catches know matter how much you play around with the numbers is still only a best guess estimate, we still don’t know the true amount caught by recreational.

Word of advice from me to the Legasea crew is to stop reading from what you find online and take up on the many offers that have been put to you to go out on commercial vessels to see first-hand that it’s not all doom & gloom, you might then have a better appreciation for the commercial sector.      

The QMS is here to stay, while it may not be perfect and could do with some minor tweaks you will find that commercial fisherman would agree. So why not work with them (commercial) to make the QMS better fit our shared fishery rather than against them, after all, we all want the same thing. If indeed commercial fund lobby groups to advance their position to incumbent governments why doesn’t Legasea/New Zealand Sport Fishing Council also spend their monetary donations and engage a lobbyist rather than seek to influence public opinion which achieves what?

I would be correct in saying the voting public don’t place fisheries high on their agenda as to who to vote for when there are more pressing issues come election time.

I am aware of a number of others Legasea have also taken steps to block, all because their comments don’t fit, even when presented with the facts. I know one person who has a wealth of knowledge within fisheries both commercial and recreational that has also been blocked and all I can say is that Legasea is poorer for it.

Rant over so looks like a ban it is and any hope of me ever supporting Legasea in the future gone with it.

Unfortunately, due to digital media and its easy use, it is all too easy to cancel or manipulate forums and the like. I have had many such issues with regards to another issue dividing NZ. Again, even factual and proven posts are cancelled and all the thugs on the sites pile on the threaten and scare you off. I sympathize with you and hope like I do, that you just keep chipping away. Even a fle can annoy the biggest dog.

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Thanks for that, I got no problem if the likes of Legasea or others want to dispute, argue or dismiss my comments but to delete, block or even cancel ones self all because it doesnt suit their agenda these people need to rethink how they are going about advocating for recreational.

More than one way to skin a cat and those that know me I can be a thron in ones side, just ask Gisborne's ex mayor or the Gisborne District Council.

In a roundabout "Legasea" admitted if we dont agree with others you will get banned.

https://lh5.googleuser.com/p/AF1QipOGj5Y8zRi_zTzhCP_7RGvTGXLGagk_vS62h08u=w180-h180-p-k-no-rp-br100";"

2 days ago

As much as there is a need for advocacy groups.they must be prepared when posting on a public platform be prepared to take criticism rather just blocking public for having a different point of view to them.Unless youre a commercial fisher then you can what you like.

Response from the owner 6 hours ago

Hi Paul, thanks for your review. Our social media channels are actually our platforms, not the publics, and therefore we are able to moderate what is said and by who. We are normally pretty welcoming of different viewpoints but once someone insults us or continues to deny science in favour of their own opinons, there is only so far we can go before it becomes incredibly unproductive. If you feel like you have been blocked unfairly, feel free to email us otherwise have a lovely day!

I'm happy that a group stands up for my rights as a reccy as I don't have the time or money to do it myself. No-one can argue that the commercial sector has abundance on their agenda (its a poor annual yield that way) and that fish levels, crayfish levels are still very, very low.

Sorry Tzer, while I understand your Karen I still feel they do a good job, and tell me who the hell else in NZ is going to do it?

They are needed to keep the commercial sector relatively honest.