Bay of Plenty fishers are being given a chance to have their say on the Government's proposed snapper quota changes at an open public meeting tonight.

A public meeting at TYPBC tonight will discuss the proposed recreational snapper limits.

Hosted by the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council and its fundraising advocacy arm LegaSea, the meeting from 7pm at the Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club once again looks three options for snapper regulations in SNA 1 – but this time public feedback is encouraged.

The Ministry for Primary Industries initial paper outlines three options for the Snapper 1 area that includes Bay of Plenty, Hauraki Gulf and East Northland – and could see the recreational snapper limits slashed from nine to just three per person.

New Zealand Sport Fishing Council management representative Peter Campbell says tonight's public meeting is a chance for council to outline their stance on MPI's proposals.

The council believes commercial overfishing is causing serious depletion to snapper stock along with denying the public the right to a reasonable number of snapper. It also says MPI fails to take into account the potential loss to businesses in the boat building and recreational marine industry.

'MPI proposals are biased towards protecting commercial catch while cutting the recreational allowance,” says Peter.

'No effort has been made to understand how recreational fishing contributes to the national economy, and how this fishing provides for the social, economic and cultural wellbeing of our communities.”

Snapper 1 is New Zealand's most popular recreational fishery and is the country's fifth-most-valuable commercial fishery by asset value.

According to MPI, proposed recreational options include reducing bag limits from nine to three, increasing the minimum legal size from 27cm to 35cm, or opting for a combination of the two.

Peter assures there will be time allocated for fishers to finally have their say following MPI's three information sessions that excluding the public and left many feeling angry.

Last Thursday around 300 people left an information evening feeling disappointed after MPI staff talked to posters about the intent to cull snapper quotas. The meeting followed the two similar meetings in Whangarei and Parnell, Auckland.

'The public will certainly get a say and will be able to ask questions.

'As far as the MPI meeting the other night goes that was not consultation at all. There were hand-outs and you could talk to MPI staff members and there was no conversation on the floor at all.”

Council believes measures need implementing to stop killing juvenile fish, dumping and other wasteful fishing practices. They also say a recreational allowance providing for current needs and an abundance of snapper for future generations needs to be established, as required by law.

The meeting takes place tonight 7pm at TYPBC.