The commercial fishing industry fears a AUD 100 million (USD 104 million, EUR 81.5 million) assistance package will not be enough to compensate people affected by the proclamation of the world's biggest network of marine reserves.
More than 2.3 million square kilometers of ocean environment around Australia will be protected from July 2014.
Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke says the government recognizes there will be impacts on some fishers which is why AUD 100 million is being allocated under a fisheries adjustment assistance package.
The Commonwealth Fisheries Association, which represents commercial fishers, is concerned compensation is being capped.
''Surely the concept would be if you are negatively impacted, you should receive compensation, pretty easy,'' chairman Martin Exel told ABC radio on Friday.
Veteran Nationals senator Ron Boswell, a fierce opponent of the marine reserves, agrees. ''That is not going to go far enough,'' he said of the AUD 100 million allocation.
''There is going to be a lot of people put out of business with no compensation.''
Burke dismissed the criticism, saying people needed to know the parameters of any assistance.
''You can't have an open-ended bottomless pit,'' he said.
