Consultation on additional fisheries services begins

18 May 2006

 Consultation on proposed additional fisheries services has begun with the release of the Ministry of Fisheries’ Statement of Intent, Chief Executive Dr John Glaister announced today.

The public is invited to comment on five proposed services that focus on enhancing fisheries management, implementing programmes to protect marine areas and reduce the effects of illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, improving available information on the effects of bottom trawling and ecosystem effects of fishing, and enhancing the Ministry’s capacity to participate in and contribute to the settlement of individual Treaty claims.

A further proposal for mapping benthic biodiversity (seafloor habitats and ecosystems), which will be undertaken as part of the Oceans 2020 policy, is also included in the consultation.

Feedback is required by 8 June, after which recommendations on the services, and how the funding will be used, will be presented to Minister of Fisheries, Hon Jim Anderton.

"Consultation is a key part of our work. People from all walks of life have an interest in the management of New Zealand’s fisheries and we regularly seek their input into the decisions made," said Dr Glaister.

Allocation of $8.2 million of funding over the next four years to support this work was announced by the Minister earlier this week.

ENDS