A grand plan to restore the Hauraki Gulf to its former glory was launched on Tuesday evening.
The Hauraki Gulf is one of New Zealand's most intensively used resources, which is taking a toll on the wildlife.
The country's first marine spatial plan 'Sea Change' proposes to get rid of trawling and dredging, as well as create more than a dozen new marine reserves.
Scott McIndoe from Legasea says the proposal will "allow for the next generation of fish to survive".
"The current state is indiscriminate bulk harvesting [meaning the] destruction of millions of little animals," he says.
"We're not saying they can't catch their fish, it's the methods they're using that's unacceptable."
Also proposed is limiting sediment that's running off into the sea, and earlier this year community group Keep Okura Green protested against local developers allowing tonnes of it into the Long Bay area.
Thirteen new marine reserves are also being proposed under the plan, on top of the five existing ones.
There would also be an expansion of marine farming in a bid to return the mussel beds which used to cover much of the Gulf.
The Gulf generates more than $2 billion to the economy.
Newshub.
