The head of the West Coast Whitebaiters Association says too many people are dying while fishing for the fish.
An ambulance was called to the mouth of the Waimangaroa River, northeast of Westport, just after 8am on Saturday, but a woman whitebaiter was dead when it arrived.
Association president Des McEnaney says many people are unaware of the dangers of whitebaiting, particularly for people trying to wield a whitebait net in the mouth of a river.
He says the association is working with the Department of Conservation to promote safety.