Growing up in Taranaki, Chase Hann spent every spare moment out on the moana, jumping on any boat that would take him. That early passion carried him through all sorts of maritime adventures - from local fishing boats to superyachts and merchant ships. These days, Chase is managing the small but mighty team at Leigh Fish.
How did you first get into the commercial fishing/seafood industry?
I grew up in rural Taranaki, where my family were keen recreational fishers, so from a young age I was dead keen on fishing and everything to do with it. By the time I was 15, every school holiday was spent jumping on any boat I could - from small gill netters and albacore boats to potters, auto-liners and charter boats. I just wanted to be at sea, gaining as much experience as possible and building my sea time.
After earning my Commercial Launch Master, I stepped away from seafood for a while and moved into the wider maritime industry, working on ferries, superyachts and merchant ships. Then in 2015, I returned to the seafood industry, bringing with me the skills and perspective I'd gained along the way.
What is your role and what do you enjoy most about it?
I've recently stepped into the role of managing Leigh Fish, and no two days are the same. One moment I'm connecting with fishers and quota owners, talking catch plans, landings and boats - always with a good yarn along the way. The next, I'm working alongside our customers, suppliers and partners here in New Zealand and overseas. There's always a variety of challenges in our business, but we're a small team with plenty of energy - everyone mucks in to get the job done.
What's the best piece of advice you've received about business or working in this industry?
Every link in the chain is important - whether you're a vessel or quota owner, a fisher, a Licensed Fish Receiver (LFR), factory or admin staff, a logistics operator, a customer or a supplier. Respect, understanding and appreciation of each other is essential, because without any one of those links doing business becomes difficult, if not impossible.
What skills do you think are most important for someone working in this industry?
Work ethic and having the ability to adapt and change direction when required. There are so many variables that can change or shift year on year with seafood and if you don't pivot, move or diversify as things change, it's easy to fall behind.
Have you noticed much change in the fishing industry since you started?
Absolutely. Growing up, the coast had a lot of smaller boats and small ports thrived - now vessels are getting bigger and bigger. Smaller vessels and smaller ports are shrinking, which is a shame for some of the supporting towns that relied on this industry/business.
Also, the onset and advancement of electronics has changed how and where we fish hugely! The good side of this is we can now harvest more precisely and sustainably. The downside is fish have nowhere to hide, the seafloor is all but mapped and spots are hard to keep as your own with the likes of GPS/AIS. The old days of chuffing out under the cover of darkness, lining up the row of pine trees with the house behind and work a depth are all but gone.
Is there a common misconception about commercial fishing or the seafood industry you'd like to set straight?
As most have heard before, the general public perceive the commercial fishers to be out there to take everything, pillaging our oceans and leaving nothing behind. But the fact is, for the most part our fishers are the custodians of our oceans and fisheries. They are the ones out there every day observing, recording, protecting and harvesting sustainably. Using generational knowledge to know when to harvest and when to let it rest, ensuring we have a fishery/industry for our sons and daughters to carry on with.
What's been your most memorable day at work?
There are a number of them, but one that comes to mind was when I was young, bluenose fishing. It was an oily calm day, with a reasonable sized long swell, as a line of bluenose floated to the surface. It felt like the line of bellies went on forever! The excitement of a good payday, outstanding weather, watching large albatross swan above waiting for their next opportunity and all us crew happy. It always puts a smile on my face thinking about it.
If you weren't working in the seafood industry, what do you think you'd be doing instead?
Good question, it would still be something to do with the ocean. I have my Second Mate Foreign Going Certificate also, so I would probably go back to merchant shipping or the maritime sector.
Outside of work, what do you enjoy doing?
I'm an active relaxer, so enjoy the outdoors. I fish (go figure), dive, hunt and a good bit of Saturday morning sport with the kids. Love getting out and spending time with my wife, son and daughter camping or at the beach.
What's your favourite kaimoana (seafood), and how do you like to enjoy it?
Ooooh yeah that's a tough one, so many delicious treats! Cooked, would be crispy skinned john dory or some garlic butter scallops (haven't had them in a while) and on the fresh front, you can't go past a nice bit of sashimi southern bluefin or yellowfin tuna.
Is there anything else you'd like to share about what you do or the industry?
I think we have a great industry, full of characters, hard workers and people who have a true love and care for our moana and everything that surrounds it. I feel grateful to be a part of it.
