Yes, however, the Rescue Fish policy is focused on managing fish stocks at higher levels and restoring biodiversity so establishing a marine reserve is not the first priority.

The Rescue Fish policy proposes that we turn the entire coastline of New Zealand into a Special Management Area. Rules can be made to ban all bottom contact, non-selective commercial fishing techniques such as trawling and dredging, and only allow the use methods that have minimal impact.

Rescue Fish is designed to facilitate more local and regional management with a particular focus on traditional Māori management techniques such as rāhui and mataitai. At a national level, co-governance of fisheries resources by Māori and the Crown will facilitate more precautionary management of the resources in the interests of future generations.