New Zealand, 19 May 2026 - As Southern Bluefin Tuna fishing continues to surge in popularity across New Zealand, two leading organisations are joining forces once again to help ensure more fishers return home safely this season.
Following the positive feedback from last year's programme, New Zealand Sport Fishing Council (NZSFC) and Coastguard Tautiaki Moana are bringing back the Southern Bluefin Tuna Seminar Series for 2026 and increasing the number of events planned across Aotearoa to reach more of our fishing and boating communities.
What began as a response to a devastating 2024 season and growing safety concerns around the rapidly expanding fishery has evolved into a practical, community-driven initiative designed to connect fishers with real-world knowledge before they head onto the water.
Southern Bluefin Tuna fishing has grown rapidly over recent years, attracting increasing numbers of trailer boats travelling further offshore, often in winter conditions where weather, fatigue, fuel management, bar crossings and decision-making can quickly become critical.
The seminar series aims to mitigate those risks by encouraging better preparation, stronger planning, and safer behaviour before the season ramps up.
“These seminars aren’t about lecturing people or telling them how to fish,” says Mike Plant, Communications and Operations Lead, NZSFC. “They’re about sharing practical lessons, local knowledge, close calls, and the things that genuinely make a difference offshore.
“The tuna fishery is one of the most exciting developments we’ve seen in recreational fishing in decades, and with that comes a lot of people who might be doing their first serious offshore trips chasing tuna. Boats are travelling further, fishing harder, and chasing opportunities that didn’t exist a few years ago. We want people to enjoy it safely, whatever their experience, and come home with the stories worth telling.”
The seminars will cover practical topics, including:
- Trip planning and weather windows
- Communications and emergency preparedness
- Fuel and range management
- Bar crossing preparation
- Vessel and safety equipment checks
- Crew readiness and fatigue management
- Offshore decision-making in marginal conditions
- Fishing techniques and local tuna knowledge.
Alongside the fishing advice, the series also highlights the strong community behind the fishery, with clubs opening their doors, experienced skippers sharing lessons learned, Coastguard crews leading prevention efforts, and local businesses supporting safer boating education.
“Prevention is one of the most important things we do,” says Simon Marshall, Bar Awareness Programme Lead and Coastguard Volunteer. “When people are better prepared before they leave the ramp, everyone benefits - the skipper, the crew, their families, and the wider boating community.
“These free-to-attend seminars create an environment where fishers can learn from each other, ask questions, and have honest conversations about the realities of offshore fishing. That practical knowledge-sharing can genuinely help save lives.”
This year’s seminar series will kick off at Burnsco Manukau on Thursday, 21 May and will finish in Gisborne on Saturday, 25 July. To find an event near you and to register, click here.
