A former Ngai Tahu Treaty negotiator says the tribe has no right to charge commercial fishermen to use Te Waihora, or Lake Ellesmere.
Waatea News reports five eelers have been told to pay a fee of 8%.
Rik Tau says the decision by Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu shows a lack of respect for their 1998 Treaty of Waitangi settlement.
Mr Tau says commercial fisherman come under the Government's quota management system.
He says charging a fee on the basis of lake restoration is simply revenue gathering.
