GOOD GEAR. GOOD CAUSE. MORE FISH IN THE WATER.
Love fishing? So do we. It’s why we’ve been proud to work with LegaSea since 2018, and what started as a simple donation of Barkers gear has grown into a longstanding partnership. We now create and sell a dedicated Barkers x LegaSea range, with proceeds going back to LegaSea to support their work protecting and restoring New Zealand’s marine environment. Here’s the rundown of what it’s all about.
TO DATE, WITH YOUR SUPPORT WE’VE BEEN ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE OVER $220K TO THIS GOOD CAUSE. CHEERS LEGENDS.
WHO ARE LEGASEA?
LegaSea is a New Zealand organisation working to put more fish in the water. Their focus is on the health of our fisheries – working to protect fish stocks, reduce wasteful fishing practices and make sure New Zealand’s marine environment is in good shape for the long haul.
It’s not just about the ocean looking healthy. It’s about having healthy, abundant fisheries that people can continue to enjoy for generations to come.
WHY DOES BARKERS SUPPORT THEM?
Our partnership with LegaSea began in 2018, after some of the Barkers crew saw firsthand how depleted parts of the Coromandel’s marine environment had become.
Today, we’re a LegaSea Platinum Partner and the exclusive stockist of LegaSea supporter gear, helping bring their work and message to customers across the country.
To date, the partnership has contributed more than $220,000 to LegaSea’s work. Eight years on, it’s a partnership we’re proud to still be part of, and one we’re looking forward to continuing to build on.
WHAT IS THE KAI IKA PROJECT?
You’ll see Kai Ika come up across some of the LegaSea product and storytelling. The idea is pretty simple: use more of the fish we catch. When a fish is filleted, there’s still plenty of good food left on the frame, head and other parts. Instead of that going to waste, Kai Ika collects it and gets it into local communities. It’s a practical way to reduce waste and make sure more of what’s caught actually gets eaten.
THE GOAL: MORE FISH IN THE WATER
If you remember one thing about LegaSea, make it this. More fish in the water. LegaSea is focused on restoring abundance to New Zealand’s fisheries.
That means looking at how we fish, how much we catch, what gets wasted and how we manage our marine resources. It’s about making sure there are plenty of fish around now – and plenty left for the next generation too.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE PRODUCT?
The LegaSea range is more than just putting a logo on a t-shirt. The graphics and designs are tied back to the ocean, New Zealand’s marine life and the work LegaSea is doing. Here’s a quick rundown of the fish featured on the tees and why they matter to LegaSea.
FISH CHART PRINT TEE
Whats on the tee?
KAHAWAI, KINGFISH, SNAPPER, KINGFISH, COD, CRAYFISH
WHY IS IT ON THE TEE?
A LINE-UP OF THE SPECIES LEGASEA IS WORKING TO PROTECT ACROSS NEW ZEALAND, WITH THEIR NAMES IN TE REO MAORI. A SIMPLE NOD TO THE FISH WE WANT TO SEE MORE OF IN OUR WATERS.
KAI IKA PRINT TEE
WHATS ON THE TEE?
KINGFISH
WHY IS IT ON THE TEE?
A TRIBUTE TO THE KAI IKA PROJECT AND THE WORK THEY DO TO MAKE SURE MORE OF THE FISH WE CATCH GETS USED. THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEER HOURS GO INTO COLLECTING THE PARTS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE WASTED AND GETTING THEM INTO LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
HAURAKI SNAPPER PRINT TEE
WHATS ON THE TEE?
SNAPPER
WHY IS IT ON THE TEE?
SNAPPER ARE A BIG PART OF THE HAURAKI GULF STORY. THIS GRAPHIC HIGHLIGHTS THE PUSH TO RESTORE ABUNDANCE IN THE GULF AND THE WORK LEGASEA IS DOING TO PROTECT NEW ZEALAND’S FISHERIES.
MARLIN LINE BREAK PRINT TEE
WHATS ON THE TEE?
MARLIN
WHY IS IT ON THE TEE?
A MARLIN BREAKING FREE FROM FISHING NETS. IT’S A PRETTY DIRECT SYMBOL OF THE STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE OF OUR MARINE LIFE, AND THE NEED TO GIVE IT ROOM TO THRIVE.
EAST COAST CRAY PRINT TEE
WHATS ON THE TEE?
CRAYFISH
WHY IS IT ON THE TEE?
IT HIGHLIGHTS THE CRAYFISH BAN ON THE NORTH ISLAND’S EAST COAST, WHERE FISHING RESTRICTIONS ARE HELPING GIVE CRAYFISH POPULATIONS A CHANCE TO RECOVER.THE BIGGER GOAL: HEALTHIER FISHERIES AND MORE CRAYFISH IN THE WATER
LEGASEA’S MISSION
LegaSea is focused on healthier, more abundant New Zealand fisheries and
reducing waste from the fish we catch. And through initiatives like Kai Ika,
they’re making sure more of what gets caught actually gets used. It’s a partnership we’re proud of – and one that’s doing a bit more than just looking good on a t-shirt.
