FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

OUTPUT CLASS - FISHERIES INFORMATION AND MONITORING

Description

This output class covers research and other service outputs relating to gathering and analysing data about New Zealand’s fisheries to support decisions about sustainable utilisation and the provision of information on the biodiversity of New Zealand’s marine environment.

Research costs represent existing projects that have been consulted on in past years and proposed new projects.

Objectives

• Provide the information required to ensure the sustainable utilisation of New Zealand’s fisheries resources.
• Manage fisheries to contribute to sustainable utilisation by scientifically evaluating:
  • sustainable yields from, and status of, fisheries resources
  • the effects of fishing on the aquatic environment, including on the viability of associated or dependent species and on biological diversity
  • alternative strategies for achieving the desired level of yield while avoiding, remedying or mitigating adverse effects of fishing on the aquatic environment
  • analysis of relevant cultural factors that may need to be included in the management decision process
  • the specific measures needed to implement the appropriate management strategy.


Output 21 Utilisation and sustainability of New Zealand’s fisheries resources measured

Description
Stock assessment reports produced on:
• estimates of biomass and sustainable yields for fish stocks
• effects of fishing on the aquatic environment, including biodiversity and bycatch species
• relevant social, cultural and economic factors that may be included in the management decision process
• non-commercial harvest levels.
  
Research reports produced on:
• strategic research directions
• medium term research plans
• research proposals for 2004/05.

Performance Expectations


Performance expectations table.

Dimension	Description	Target	Actual
Quality	% of agreed milestones achieved to specified quality standards	100%	Not measured
Cost	% variance of research project costs vs. budgeted cost (on an individual project basis)	<=10%	29%
Time	% of milestones 1-3, 5 and 6 achieved	100%	80%
	% of milestone 4 achieved	90%	100%
	% of milestone 7 achieved	80%	0%

Linkage to contributing outcomes

This output links to the contributing outcome "Maintain the integrity of the existing fisheries management and marine biosecurity frameworks" through:

• obtaining and managing information on the sustainability of fisheries resources
• measuring sustainability against sustainability targets established by the Fisheries Act 1996
• providing advice to fisheries managers and decision-makers on revised sustainability.

Table of actual performance of milestones.

Milestone	Quality & Time	Commentary
Report from the Mid-Year Fishery Assessment Plenary produced by 21 November 2003 in accordance with the quality standards as defined in the Fisheries Research Services 2003/2004 Tender Document Part II: A - Appendix II B, Form 2 and Appendix III B.	Quality: Not measured Time: Achieved	Completed
Audit of quality of data supplied by research providers completed by 28 November 2003 in accordance with the quality standards as defined in the Fisheries Research Services 2003/2004 Tender Document - Part II: A - Section 2.5.	Quality: Not measured Time: Achieved	Completed
Research proposals for 2004/05 produced by 5 December 2003 in accordance with the quality standards as defined in the document "Format and Content of Project Summaries and Medium Term Plans prepared by the Research Planning Groups" dated 30 July 2002 and held in the Science Team directories.	Quality: Not measured Time: Achieved	Completed on 26 November 2003.
Research tender released by 20 December 2003 in accordance with the quality requirements as defined in the "Catch and Effort Data Quality Specification and Standards".	Quality: Not measured Time: Achieved	Completed on 19 December 2003.
Replacement catch effort forms for two fisheries developed by 1 May 2004 in accordance with the quality standards as defined in the "Catch and Effort Data Quality Specifications and Standards".	Quality: Not measured Time: Not achieved	Replacement Bottom Longlining Catch Effort form completed in December 2003. Development deferred on a new Set Net Catch Effort form as more analysis is required on mixed fishing methods on same trip and the impact on data quality.
Report from the Fishery Assessment Plenary produced by 30 May 2004 in accordance with the quality standards as defined in the Fisheries Research Services 2003/2004 Tender Document Part II: A - Appendix II B, Form 2 and Appendix III B.	Quality: Not measured Time: Achieved	Completed on 27 May 2004.
Medium term research plans produced by 27 June 2004 and in accordance with the quality standards as defined in the document “Format and Content of Project Summaries and Medium Term Plans prepared by the Research Planning Groups” dated 30 July 2002.	Quality: Not measured Time: Not achieved	Due to the timing changes to the research planning process, updating the medium term research plans was not completed by the end of the year. It is expected this will be completed during the first quarter of the 2004/05 financial year.