From endurance to advocacy

Ridler’s 90-day journey from North Cape down the east coast of Aotearoa’s North Island captured national attention, drawing thousands of supporters to Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington as he completed the swim on 4 April. But the finish line was never the end goal.

Instead, it marked a transition—from physical endurance to policy influence.

“We’ve heard from people right along the coast, people who rely on the ocean, who’ve seen the change in their lifetime, and who want to see it protected,” Ridler said. “This is about taking those voices to Parliament and asking decision-makers to act.”

That collective voice is now formalised in a petition containing 73,647 verified signatures—each one representing growing public concern over ocean health and biodiversity.

A clear and targeted ask

At the heart of the campaign is a focused and actionable demand: an end to bottom trawling, starting with seamounts and progressing towards a full transition away from the practice.

Bottom trawling—where heavy nets are dragged across the seabed—has long been criticised for destroying fragile ecosystems, damaging biodiversity, and releasing stored carbon. Seamounts, in particular, are highly vulnerable and slow to recover, making them a priority for protection.

The petition goes further, calling for legislative action to prohibit bottom trawling on deep-sea features over 100 metres tall and to end permits for New Zealand vessels operating in international waters by 2027.

Live Ocean co-founder Blair Tuke believes the moment represents a turning point.

“We’re asking for a clear step forward—to end bottom trawling on seamounts and begin the transition away from it entirely,” he said. “This is an outdated practice that damages ocean ecosystems, and we can do better.”

Into the corridors of power

The campaign is now firmly embedded within the political process. Meetings have been scheduled with cross-party MPs, including Minister for Oceans and Fisheries Shane Jones, while Northland MP Grant McCallum is set to formally present the petition to Parliament.

Once tabled, the petition will be referred to a Select Committee—an important stage that enables detailed scrutiny and public submissions before any recommendations are made.

This shift—from grassroots mobilisation to legislative engagement—will define the next phase of the campaign.

A defining moment for ocean policy

The Swim4TheOcean kaupapa builds on years of advocacy from communities, scientists and environmental organisations across Aotearoa. Yet this moment feels different—driven by scale, visibility and a clear mandate for change.

For Ridler and his supporters, the challenge now is not endurance, but influence: converting public momentum into meaningful policy.

The swim may be over, but the real test—whether New Zealand can balance its maritime heritage with the urgent need for ocean protection—has only just begun.