Swimmer Breaks Record, Rallies 66K Against Bottom Trawling

Jono Ridler walked out of Wellington's Whairepo Lagoon on Saturday to thunderous cheers, having just shattered the world record for the longest unassisted staged swim. For 90 days, he battled jellyfish swarms, sunburn, and exhaustion swimming almost 1,400 kilometers from North Cape wearing nothing but swim togs, goggles, and a cap.

But the physical achievement was only half the story. Ridler partnered with marine conservation group LiveOcean to shine a spotlight on bottom trawling, a fishing method that drags heavy nets across the ocean floor, destroying fragile ecosystems that take centuries to recover.

The campaign struck a chord with New Zealanders. More than 66,000 people have signed the petition calling on the government to transition away from bottom trawling, especially in vulnerable areas like deep-sea seamounts.

"We are currently the only country that is bottom trawling in the high seas of the South Pacific, which isn't a good title to hold," Ridler told supporters gathered at the waterfront. New Zealand's status as an environmental outlier on this issue became impossible to ignore.

The swim included more than 120 stops between swimming shifts, each one a chance to meet with communities and raise awareness. Ridler swam two six-hour shifts daily, five days a week, before resting and repeating the cycle.

The Ripple Effect

What started as one swimmer's ambitious journey became a nationwide conversation about ocean health. LiveOcean founder Blair Tuke says Ridler's dedication to pushing himself to the absolute limit resonated deeply with people across the country, turning an environmental campaign into something personal and urgent.

The team plans to present the petition to Parliament at the end of April, armed with tens of thousands of voices demanding change. While bottom trawling remains deeply entrenched in New Zealand's fishing industry, Ridler believes transitioning away is entirely possible.

"I think on the other side of that, we'll have a healthier ocean for it," he said, still pinching himself at the welcome he received after three months at sea.

Those 66,000 signatures represent New Zealanders ready to protect the fragile underwater ecosystems that define their island nation, inspired by one swimmer who refused to stay on the shore.