A bid to create a marine protection area along the east coast of the South Island, from Timaru down to Waipapa Point, near the Catlins, is underway.
The South-East Marine Protection Planning Forum was established by the Department of Conservation, and the Ministry of Primary Industries, in March this year.
The forum chairperson, Maree Baker-Galloway says the initial process is expected to take two years but the end result could involve marine reserves, customary fishing areas, and fishing restrictions.
She said that - other than some customary fishing areas - there were no areas of marine protection from Timaru to Southland.