Observed • Selected • Harvested

Welcome to Ocean Speared: From Sea To Plate

Dive into a world where premium quality meets responsible fishing practices. Ocean Speared began its journey with spearfishing, immersing itself in the underwater realm. Evolving beyond just speared fish, we now offer a diverse range of hand-gathered treasures, from kina and paua to sea tulips and octopus, and long-line snapper fishing. Our objective is to enhance the value of the catch, guaranteeing the supply of top-quality fish to restaurants, all while ensuring fair compensation for our dedicated fishermen and divers. Throughout, our steadfast commitment to growth and innovation remains unwavering.

Previous slide
Next slide

Spearfishing:

Selective Harvesting: The beauty of spearfishing lies in the diver’s careful observation and selection of each fish. This ethical approach eliminates bycatch and prevents the targeting of undersize fish, contributing to healthier and more sustainable fish stocks. Spearfishing’s minimal impact on the marine environment sets it apart.

Ike-Jime Technique: Tim works with a deckhand and a free diver, practicing the Japanese technique of ike-jime. This method ensures swift and humane processing, avoiding lactic acid buildup. The fish are cooled in an ice slurry and ‘soldier stacked’ for transportation, preserving their exceptional quality. Butterfish, our most popular choice, undergoes a fascinating transformation and is renowned for its tender flesh and delectable buttery texture.

Long-Line Fishing:

We are committed to returning to the roots of old-school fishing, where fishing families can thrive, make a respectable living, and take pride in delivering an exceptional product. Our low-impact snapper operation utilizes recreational-sized boats and long lines. Fishing to order allows us to handle each fish with care, from iki spiking to ice slurry.

Cavel King, our dedicated skipper, ensures that our snapper consistently meets the highest quality standards, delivering excellence to restaurants.

Previous slide
Next slide

Sustainable Fishing Practices: Our Pride and Commitment

Small-Scale, Exceptional Quality: At the core of Ocean Speared is a commitment to small-scale operations delivering exceptional quality. We catch fish to order, ensuring each product reflects the highest standards of freshness and excellence. Embracing change, we continually seek new avenues to provide a premium selection of seafood, reflecting the richness of the ocean in every catch. Upon harvesting, our fish undergo swift and humane processing. We employ an iki spike to promptly dispatch the fish, preventing reflex actions that can lead to lactic acid and ammonia buildup, which can affect the fillet’s quality. Subsequently, the fish are carefully gutted and placed in an ice slurry, followed by precise “soldier stacking” on ice. These meticulous steps ensure that our fish reach their destination in an exceptional and pristine condition.

Zero Bycatch, Pristine Source: Ocean Speared takes pride in responsibly caught fish with a genuine zero bycatch commitment. Harvested from the exquisite and untouched waters around the northern tip of the South Island, each fish undergoes individual care and meticulous attention to detail, guaranteeing a premium-quality product.

Kaitiakitanga in Action: Preserving Our Ocean’s Bounty

Ocean Speared currently operates under a special permit granted by the Ministry of Primary Industries. This permit specifies that we are exclusively permitted to spear butterfish and banded wrasse in the waters around the northern tip of the South Island. Moreover, we can also provide fresh kina upon prior arrangement.

Among our offerings, butterfish stands out as the most popular choice among our customers. Abundantly found in the waters of the top of the South Island, butterfish is renowned for its tender flesh and delectable buttery texture. These fish are often colloquially referred to as ‘green bone’ due to their diet of kelp, which imparts a distinctive green hue to their bones. Butterfish undergo a fascinating transformation from female (brown/green) to male (dark blue-black) as they mature. They are typically harvested from 35cm in length and can grow up to an impressive 70cm.

About Us: Passion Turned Business

Founded by Tim Barnett: Ocean Speared is the result of Tim Barnett’s passion for spearfishing turned into a family-owned and operated venture. Tim, a commercial freediver and spearfishing enthusiast, envisions pioneering a new path in the fishing industry and creating opportunities for the next generation.

The Crew

Tim Barnett

A commercial freediver and spearfishing enthusiast leading the way in commercial spearfishing.

Lee Dodunski

The charismatic face of Ocean Speared, embodying our commitment to excellence.

Andrew Bassett

An ex-UK Navy submariner turned commercial diver and entrepreneur, bringing a wealth of experience.

Milan Ritschny

A skipper and deck boss with two decades of experience in the tourism industry, passionate about the sea.

Dan Bothwell

A commercial diver, outdoorsman, and chef, adding diverse skills to the Ocean Speared crew.

Join Our Culinary Community

Contact Us

If you’re interested in our products or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Scroll to Top