University of Otago professor Elisabeth Slooten’s comments come after Highlanders head of rugby Jamie Joseph and former All Black prop Kees Meeuws earlier this week called for more consultation on the matter.
"There has literally been decades of consultation," Prof Slooten, who specialises in marine science and biology, said.
"It dates back more than 35 years, when people raised the idea of marine reserves in this area.
"There have been dozens of opportunities for input on marine reserves on the Otago coast."
Before last year’s election, the then-Labour government’s conservation minister, Willow-Jean Prime, and oceans and fisheries minister Rachel Brooking announced six marine reserves from the Waitaki River to Watsons Beach, near Milton.
It was the culmination of several decades of consultative processes, Prof Slooten said.
This included submissions on the South East Marine Protected Areas in December 2016, and again in April 2020.
The 2016 process received 2803 submissions, with an additional 4000 submissions in 2020.
More than 90% of the submissions — which included commercial and recreational fishing interests — were in favour of marine reserves.
"The thing about marine reserves is that people are usually in favour of them once they see the effects of it.
"Initially, fishermen were opposed to the Cape Rodney-Okakari (Goat Island) Marine Reserve back in the day, but look at it now — it’s become a tourism mecca; it’s just gone bonkers.
"When people see that, and notice you can catch fish at the edge of the reserve, they start to see the benefits," Prof Slooten said.
"Usually, when you have consultations, you expect only a few hundred submissions ... they had to employ people to look through them all.
"I think it’s ‘fulltime’ for consultation, and we need these reserves to kick off."
The total amount of the Otago coastline that would be protected under the proposals would be less than 10%, she said.
"You can still fish in the vast majority of the Otago coastline ..."
Earlier this week, Mr Joseph said recreational fishers, including himself, were kept in the dark about what was planned.
"I’m not sure why there is a need for a marine reserve and the frustrating part is we didn’t actually know it was going on."
He has been approached for further comment.
Highlanders chief executive Roger Clark said "the key for me is the rugby identities that weighed in on the marine issue are entitled to their opinion".
"I would like to be clear — the view of the individuals does not reflect that of the Highlanders Rugby Club."
