The idea of introducing licences for recreational sea fishing has drawn criticism from the recreational fishing sector.
The licence proposal was raised in a discussion document released at the New Zealand Recreational Fishing Council's annual conference in Nelson.
Nelson fishing columnist Daryl Crimp said he did not think the plan would be warmly received by the recreational fishing sector.
"I think there would be quite a backlash. It would galvanise recreational fishers," he said.
Mr Crimp said sea fishing was one of the few activities that the whole family could do at little cost, and licences would increase that cost.
He also believed licences would be difficult to police because of the huge area of coastline involved.
The current system of setting daily catch limits for fish species worked well, so there was no reason to change it.
The document, drafted by the council and Fisheries Ministry representatives, put forward three options for better management of marine recreational fishing.
The licence was suggested as a way of funding one of the options, establishing a formal recreational fishing right.
Under this option, recreational management groups would be set up to recommend daily bag limits and minimum size limits.
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters also criticised the proposal, saying the ability to go fishing was the birthright of New Zealanders.
The licences would just create another bureaucracy, he said.
But the owner of Nelson company Cat O Nine Charters, Barry Shirtcliff, said action was needed to protect fish stocks from being depleted.
The other options put forward in the discussion document were to keep the status quo, or set aside a proportional share of the total allowable catch for recreational fishers.
- NZPA
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