The licensees were removed to revitalise fishing stocks and to prevent the spread of an emerging weed, caulerpa taxifolia, in Lake Macquarie.

Cr Greg Best said 211 professional fisherman are now operating in Tuggerah Lakes.

He said that number posed real concerns for the lakes' sustainability.

Those concerns were highlighted in the council's major State of the Environment (SoE) report showing the lake's decline.

Cr Best and Cr Doug Eaton recently met with Primary Industry Minister Katrina Hodgkinson to advise her of local concerns about over-fishing in Tuggerah Lakes.

Member for Wyong Darren Webber arranged the meeting.

Cr Best said Department of Primary Industries data charts showing fishing activity on Tuggerah Lakes revealed a significant increase in both the catch quantity and the number of professional fishermen operating on the lake over the last six years.

He said of the 211 commercial fishermen on the lake only 30 were locals.

"Haul netting has increased the take against the number of licences which is clearly visible when you compare the early 90s data," Cr Best said.

"All this is happening over the past eight years or so which, surprise, surprise, just happens to coincide with the closure of Lake Macquarie to professional fishing 10 years ago."

Cr Best said the minister appeared to be in accord with their call for some sort of restrictions or bans applied to commercial fishing in Tuggerah Lakes.

"The minister was obviously quite concerned about the haul net methods practiced by a few operators and asked her department to review this practice," he said.

"In addition, she assured us that a review of licences was under way that would result, over the next few years, in a significant decrease of licences.

"So that's good news."