ACT wants harsher penalties for anyone flouting fisheries rules to protect our ocean resources. 

The party's promising a suite of changes if re-elected to Government. 

These includes stricter shellfish catch limits, setting up a district management area for the Hauraki Gulf and permanently ending scallop dredging in areas where its currently closed. 

Conservation spokesperson Cameron Luxton says we need also better information about the environmental damage of different fishing methods. 

LISTEN ABOVE