A landmark court ruling which allows councils to place restrictions on fishing is being challenged by the Government.
The Environment Court ruled in December that councils were able to impose fishing rules in their regions for the purpose of protecting native species. It was hailed at the time as a "very important" decision by environmental group Forest and Bird, who said it could be applied by councils across the country.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) confirmed today that Crown law had appealed the court's decision this week, but would not comment further.
"The case is now before the High Court therefore we cannot comment."
Forest and Bird and the Motiti Rohe Moana Trust took the matter to the Environment Court in a bid to prevent fishing around Astrolabe Reef, where the ecosystem had suffered after being struck by the container vessel MV Rena in 2011 - New Zealand's worst environmental disaster at sea.