Fisheries officers want blue flashing lights on their vehicles similar to those on police vehicles.
The proposal is contained in a submission by the Ministry of Fisheries for a change to the Land Transport Rules 2004.
At present, officers drive marked vehicles with no flashing lights.
The ministry says the difficulty officers face is that, though they have the legal power to stop vehicles, they lack the necessary equipment to effectively and safely make them stop.
While assistance is readily available for police, it is not practical for fishery officers to rely on that help, the ministry says.
It says the power to stop vehicles is an extremely important enforcement tool in the fight against poaching.
The Paua Industry Council says it supports the call for blue flashing lights on patrol vehicles.
