Fisheries 2030 - Vision, result areas and action plan

Welcome to the Fisheries 2030 web page

Unlocking the potential of the New Zealand fisheries sector

The findings of an independent review of the fisheries sector, initiated in August 2008 by Wayne McNee Chief Executive Ministry of Fisheries, has now been reported to Government.

The review, undertaken by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), found that while New Zealand fisheries management is amongst the world’s best, there is further significant potential to create economic, cultural, social and environmental value through the development of new institutional arrangements and fisheries management tools. If this potential is realised it will contribute to a strengthening of the New Zealand economy.

A copy of the full PwC report can be downloaded here.

 Download Full PwC Report (PDF 246KB)

Need for a shared direction and plan of action

Building on the independent review, the Minister of Fisheries Hon. Phil Heatley has announced his intention to work with tangata whenua and fisheries stakeholders to confirm a clear direction and plan of action for the fisheries sector. A copy of Minister Heatley’s announcement can be viewed by clicking here.

Building on success

Internationally, what New Zealand has achieved with its management of fisheries is outstanding. We have sustainable fisheries; an internationally competitive commercial fishing sector that operates without subsidy and pays its share of management costs; a high quality amateur fishery; and resolution of fisheries and aquaculture Treaty claims.

New Zealand is a small country with few large-scale natural assets. As such, we need to make sure we make best use of the resources we have. We need to adjust the current system so that we can enable sustainable economic development, employment, and other benefits to be generated from the use of fisheries resources. Strong leadership is required across the fisheries sector to develop a shared future direction, confirm strategic objectives and take action to unlock value.

Next steps

The PwC report provides a starting point for this work by identifying a proposed future vision for the fisheries sector along with result areas, objectives and actions.

While not representing agreed Government policy, actions in the PwC report do support the Government’s agenda for sustainable economic development and improved performance across of a number of areas. These include lowering sector costs through increased effectiveness and efficiency of services; enabling stakeholders to undertake collective management action; and new approaches to decision-making and the use of information to ensure the sustainability of fish stocks to deliver best value.

The Ministry will be working with iwi and stakeholders during May to develop advice on a clear direction for the sector and a plan of action to be reported back to Cabinet in July.