A state Greens MP has been targeted with online abuse and even death threats for supporting the government’s plan to introduce lockout zones to protect fish in vulnerable areas along the coast.

“C-------ing dog close one [recreational fishing spot] and your [sic] dead,” said one of the comments posted to Justin Field’s Facebook page. “Your [sic] a f--in [sic] germ piece of s--t… we will destroy you at the next election you f--in [sic] germ … die you bastard,” said another.

A third wrote that he hoped that Field was “taken out of the equation”. A fourth wrote, “Prepare to get your legs broken Justin”. Others commented that he was a “grub” and a “maggot” and still more targeted Mr Field’s wife, demanding she urge him to respond to their comments.

The proposal to restrict or ban recreational recreational fishing in 25 sites along the coast to help fish stocks recover was abruptly abandoned by the state government on Monday in the face of opposition by fishing groups.

Mr Field, a Greens MP in the NSW upper house, said that those who posted the abuse on his page appeared to have been motivated by a campaign against the proposal being run on another popular Facebook page, Stop the Lockout. Activists against the ban also received support from popular talkback radio hosts and TV fishing shows.