A Taranaki kaumatua wants a traditional ban on collecting paua from the coast near New Plymouth.
Joe Broughton from Ngati te Whiti says kaitiaki are reporting many seafood gatherers are taking well over the ten-paua limit.
He's appealing to other hapu of Te Atiawa to act or risk losing their kaimoana for future generations.
"There's a lot of talk but no action," he told Waatea News. "There was a lot of time when plaua were pentiful, but not anymore."
Mr Broughton said there are not enough fisheries officers to police the area, and at 82, he does not have the ability to physically stop the poachers.
