Government is reducing the number of fishermen who will get lobster licences this year after a "disastrous" season in 2000-2001 which saw the number of fish landed drop by half.

Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield admitted this would not please everyone, but it was necessary to ensure fishermen earn a reasonable living and the lobster population is sustainable.

She said 22 licences will be handed out to fisherman this season for 308 traps.

This is down from 2000-2001 when 27 fishermen were granted licences for the season - which runs from September 1 to March 31. Between 1996 - when commercial lobster fishing was re-established after the fish pot ban - and now, licences were handed out in a lottery open to full-time fishermen in good standing.

Ms Butterfield said: "In the 2000-2001 season, the process was opened up and 27 fishermen were granted licences, but the results were disastrous.

"Several of the fishermen did not have any prior experience in trapping lobsters and the catch data indicated a 50 percent decline in the number of lobsters landed.

"Following this unfortunate season, the lottery policy was abandoned and number of long-term commercial licence holders were selected to provide a measure of stability and continuity."

Ms Butterfield said the Marine Resources Board suggested this policy and the Ministry of Environment endorsed it.

She said seventeen of the 22 licences for this season will go to those who held them before.

The five new licences will be handed out based on a lottery of nine eligible fishermen.

To be eligible, fishermen must have previous lobster trapping experience between 1996 and 2003, and be full-time fishermen.

They also have to be in "good standing", meaning they have submitted catch statistics and have no previous fishery related convictions in the past five years.