The Environmental Defence Society has issued a report criticising how the Government sets up and runs marine reserves.
EDS says the Marine Reserves Act is confused and skewed in favour of exploitation by fishing and mineral extraction.
It says the Act is in need of revision to stop New Zealand falling further behind other countries like Australia, which recently established Marine Protected Areas along its coasts.
EDS says it has made 16 recommendations to revise the Act, including allowing Marine Reserves to be created further off-shore and making it clear that the Act's primary purpose is to protect biodiversity.
