Recreational fishermen in Bay of Plenty are backing moves by the Maori owners of Tuhua-Mayor Island to ban commercial fishing around the island.
Russ Hawkins, who operates a charter fishing boat out of Tauranga, says the proposed mataitai or customary marine reserve would complement an existing marine reserve to the north east of the island.
He told Waatea News that Bay of Plenty fishermen have worked with iwi in the past to protect other marine areas.
"We've got alongside and reached an amicable consensus amongst all of us." he said.
