Bay of Plenty Regional Council is considering its options after failing to strike out a Motiti Rohe Moana Trust application pushing for fishing controls around the Rena wreck.
The Environment Court's landmark ruling relates to the trust's push for fishing controls to be in force around Otaiti (Astrolabe Reef), where the Rena grounded in October 2011, and Motiti Island.
It means regional councils might be able to control fishing to help protect native species within their regional plans.
The trust and Forest and Bird Protection Society argued for fishing to be regulated in these areas to allow the ecosystem time to recover.
Motiti Rohe Moana Trust sought a declaration that it was lawful for the regional council to include limits or discourage certain fishing techniques within its proposed Regional Coastal Environment Plan.