An environmental advocacy group has renewed its call for reform of marine management, following warnings from scientists that the world's oceans are on the brink of collapse.
The Environmental Defence Society wants a Royal Commission into the state of New Zealand's seas.
Some of the world's top marine researchers say mass extinctions are looming because of damage wrought by climate change, pollution from chemicals and nutrients, and overfishing.
They say coral reefs are dying, fish species are disappearing, toxic algal blooms spreading and large areas of ocean becoming devoid of oxygen.
The Environmental Defence Society says the findings are crucial to New Zealand as the country has the world's fifth largest ocean area.
It says the Government needs to commission a broad review covering issues such as fishing, mineral exploration and marine mammal protection.
