Forest and Bird is calling for the Hauraki Gulf-to-Bay of Plenty cray-fishery to be closed for three years to allow the species to start recovering.

It says the crayfish population in the region has undergone a significant decline.

The Minister of Fisheries Stuart Nash halved the total allowable catch in April. 

However, Forest and Bird marine conservation advocate Katrina Goddard says that while the quota reduction did have a small impact on some operators, but had no impact on a large majority.

Talkback callers to Andrew Dickens shared their feelings, and most seemed in favour of the move if it means allowing more crayfish for future generations.

Andrew called on people to spread out the types of fish and options that they eat so the pressure is not on one species to meet the demand, a call many listeners were in favour of. 

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