Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley has outlined a plan to set up fishing areas throughout New Zealand solely for recreational and customary fishers.
Mr Heatley says he is committed to fulfilling a National Party promise for the exclusive areas.
Recreational fishers say it is important to have significant areas where they can catch a fish and where stocks are protected from large-scale commercial activity.
But Mr Heatley says the economic impact on commercial fishers must be minimised.
He says the plan is in its early stages but could be operational within two years.
