The protester, whose identity is unconfirmed, has stalled plans to elect a new board of harbour commissioners by lodging an objection to Newlyn's Revision Order with the Secretary of State.
The order, which was drafted to bring the Harbour Commission into line with the Government's 2000 Guide to Good Governance, must be supported by everyone to be implemented.
A Department of Transport spokesman confirmed that unless the commission can negotiate and persuade the objector to withdraw, it must make a request to the Secretary of State for a public inquiry.
"This will be implemented unless the Secretary of State considers the objection is frivolous or trivial," he said.
A harbour commissioner said the expense of a public hearing would have to be paid by the commission and raised through the industry.
"I can't understand why it's being delayed, personally," he said. "The annoying thing would be to have somebody stop progress."
A public inquiry is an official review of events or actions ordered by the Government.
Interested members of the public and organisations may not only make written evidential submissions as is the case with most inquiries, but also listen to oral evidence given by other parties.
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