ECOfishers NSW Mid-North Coast director Maurie Britten is encouraging residents to attend the meeting to hear about the social, economic and environmental consequences of the proposal.

National Parks Association is pushing for a 22,000ha marine park between Crowdy Head and Lake Cathie.

The proposal is part of a statewide plan for an intricate network of marine protection from Tweed Heads in the north to Cape Howe in the south.

Mr Britten said said the community must challenge and defeat the National Parks Association demand for the marine park.

The meeting will be held at the South West Rocks Country Club, 85km north of Port Macquarie, at 5.30pm today.

A National Parks Association spokeswoman said recreational and commercial fishing would be allowed in the majority of the proposed marine park, but some sanctuary zones would be created where fishing was prohibited.