The unions are seeking to renew a collective agreement reached last September, but after 10 months of negotiation they have failed to come to an agreement with the ministry.
The dispute is over pay, travel allowance, annual leave and fitness testing.
If the talks break down then a walk out by the 220 staff including fisheries officers, investigators and scientists as well as administrative and clerical staff could place fish stocks around New Zealand at risk, according to news reports from New Zealand.
Ministry Staff Threaten Walk Out
NEW ZEALAND - Talks between the New Zealand Fisheries Ministry and the trades unions the Public Service Association and National Union of Public Employees have been set this week to stop a threatened walkout of staff.