In the calm of evening fishermen drop their lures to pluck out as many small fish as they can to fill their live bait tank. The bait fish will be used later, on the banks farther out to sea to hook the prize fish of the ‘Kings, hāpuku. Longliners set their hooks on those banks too, pulling up their catch which will be consumed, ultimately, by you and I.
The Three Kings are a wildlife reserve on land, but not in the water. As a result, marine life is exploited by fishing charters every summer. The charters are well-intended, but have a significant impact on the ecosystem.