Fisheries New Zealand is planning to extend the closure of the southern scallop fishery in the top of the South Island.
The Ministry for Primary Industries said a critical slump in stocks forced closure of the scallop fishery in Tasman and Golden Bays and in the Marlborough Sounds in 2016.
The closure was extended last year to Port Underwood.
Surveys showed the areas were at their lowest recorded biomass.
The ministry was seeking public feedback on extending the closure, before the season was due to open next month.
Fisheries New Zealand had also commissioned comprehensive research to investigate the decline, with results expected later this year.