New Management Regime for Foreign Charter Vessels

The Chief Executive of the Ministry of Fisheries, Wayne McNee has recently approved new measures to ensure tighter management around the use of foreign charter vessels (FCVs) in New Zealand’s waters. The current management regime was reviewed after concerns were raised about the safety, standard and operation of some of the FCVs currently chartered to fish in New Zealand.

The changes to the management regime fall within four main areas:

• A minimum standard for the provision of food, accommodation and amenities for Ministry of Fisheries (MFish) observers on board, including minimum requirements for observer cabins and sanitary facilities and a minimum head height of 1.9 metres in the area of an observer’s factory work-station.
• A risk based approach to placing observers on vessels, with increased levels of observer coverage on vessels considered high risk.
• Greater safety assurance through increased cooperation with Maritime New Zealand.
• Improved registration and approval processes including more rigorous risk assessment and screening of foreign vessels and crew and compulsory pre-registration inspection by fishery officers.

These changes are designed to ensure the integrity of the quota management system is maintained and to provide a safe and secure working environment for MFish observers.

If you require any further information please contact Aoife Martin on 04 819 4675 or aoife.martin@fish.govt.nz 

 Download Foreign Charter Vessels FAP (PDF 1.58MB)

 Download Decision Letter (PDF 185KB)

Proposed Management Measures to Mitigate the Risk from Foreign Charter Vessels Operating in New Zealand's EEZ

Download Initial Position Paper (PDF 327KB)

Download Letter to Stakeholders (PDF 41KB)