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The Māori Party is backing a call by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment for urgent action to protect the long-finned eel from extinction.
Jan Wright last week told a select committee that a moratorium was needed.
Tāmaki Makaurau MP Pita Sharples says eels are a delicacy that hapū and whānau use to provide manaakitanga to guests.
They are also revered for their status as kaitiaki, atua and taniwha which protect waterways and indicate the health of ecosystems.
Dr Sharples says putting a rāhui on commercial fishing of eels is a good first step, along with addressing the barriers to migration such as dams and turbines and restoring the health of rivers and lakes.
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