The Northern Territory Government is considering reducing recreational fishing bag limits.
A discussion paper, released today, says there needs to be overall catch reductions of about 50 per cent for golden snapper and 20 per cent for jewfish to allow the recovery of fish stocks in Darwin Harbour.
Territory Fisheries Minister Willem Westra van Holthe is seeking public comment on proposed measures to boost all fish stocks, which includes bag limits, off-limit areas and restrictions on catch and release practices.
He says he hopes any changes do not have to be heavily policed.
"You can't catch as many golden snapper now as you could five years ago," he said.
"If people realise that they are having a significant impact on fish stocks in those closed-in reefs, then I hope that they just do the right thing without a great deal of policing having to go into it."
The Territory's key recreational fishing body says it agrees with Government plans to impose restrictions.
Amateur Fishermen's Association NT (AFANT) executive officer Craig Ingram says he supports measures to ensure future sustainability of the fishing industry but hopes the commercial sector will also follow the guidelines.
"There have been three discussion papers released in the last year in relation to the fishing sustainability issue," he said.
"We haven't seen any movement from the tour operating, the charters or the commercials.
"We believe that it is essential that all of those are dealt with, and it is clear from government about what the impact is on all sectors."
A fishing charter operator says he supports plans to introduce bag limits on certain species of fish for a five-year period, even though it will hurt his business.
The owner of Darwin Reefs N Wrecks Fishing Charters, Jim Bancroft, says the proposal is unexpected and will come at a cost.
"That is a large part of our business, so it is going to affect us dramatically," he said.
"The Commonwealth was making closures further out, big areas, and we didn't realise there would be something in closer like this.
"It has come as a bit of a surprise, closing off our regular fishing grounds."