Spear fisher and Strait Speared founder Cole Robinson has been named the 2025 Sunderland Marine Young Fisher of the Year for his entrepreneurship, innovative fishing solutions and commitment to providing quality fish locally.  

Robinson, 26, founded Strait Speared in 2022 after set-net closures along the West Coast of the North Island functionally ended Wellington’s commercial inshore butterfish fishery. Robinson, along with business partner Thomas Strawbridge, applied for a special permit to trial spearfishing as a viable commercial alternative and have spent the past three years developing relationships with local Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington restaurants, such as Graze and Rosella, that were keen to put this sustainably harvested protein on their menus.  

Spreading their catch along the whole coast to reduce overfishing (Robinson and Strawbridge are talented spear fishers, coming in ninth in the Spearfishing Nationals 2024), each fish is handpicked, individually speared and immediately cleaned and put on ice in reusable food-safe packaging. 

But entrepreneurship is never smooth sailing. Strait Speared’s special permits still mandated compliance with existing commercial fishing regulations, so Robinson and Strawbridge each completed their skipper’s tickets and continue to comply with geospatial reporting requirements, having valid annual catch entitlements (ACE) for their butterfish and investing in diving gear at personal financial cost. 

Young Fish co-founder and award creator Ben Pierce says Robinson embodies everything the award represents – a solutions-focused mentality and a passion for the industry. 

“Cole saw a gap in the industry and adapted his fishing methods and business practices to meet a clear need. We loved how he took the initiative to trial a new approach for the butterfish fishery and keep it alive in the Wellington area,” says Pierce. 

Sunderland Marine representative Nicki Peacey says they were thrilled with the calibre of finalists and that it was a hard choice to narrow it down to Robinson. “We look forward to seeing how he continues to invest in Strait Speared and his career as a fisher and business owner. Cole and Tom have a great future in the fishing industry and Sunderland Marine is proud to support their future endeavours.” 

Robinson was presented with the award’s trophy in Ōtautahi Christchurch at the 2025 New Zealand Federation of Commercial Fishermen conference. He will also be awarded $5,000 courtesy of Sunderland Marine to further develop his career.  

Federation President Doug Saunders-Loder says, “It’s great to see this award return for a second year. We have a responsibility to support the up-and-comers in the seafood industry and help them develop their careers for the long run.” 

The award, founded in 2024, celebrates young fishers under the age of 35 who have demonstrated skill and commitment and have a determination to further their careers within the fishing industry.   

Learn more about the award at: https://www.nzfishfed.co.nz/conference/sunderland-marine-young-fisher-of-the-year-award