Maintaining existing management systems

the use of GPS to track officers’ vehicles and a policy of conducting operations in cooperation with Police where risks to officers are high.

The fisheries compliance goal of optimal levels of compliance depends on the successful implementation of the supporting strategies of high levels of voluntary compliance and maintenance of an effective deterrent. The Ministry wishes to place on record its acknowledgement of the work done by Honorary Fishery Officers to promote high levels of compliance, often under difficult circumstances. The Ministry also wishes to acknowledge the support it receives from other government agencies (the Ministry of Defence, New Zealand Customs and New Zealand Police) in its efforts to reduce illegal fishing activity.

Observer services

Total coverage achieved in 2004/05 was 5,625 days.

Significant effort was invested during the year to enhance sampling and data collection specifications for observers. The operational planning process, used to translate the annual plan into detailed coverage requirements, has also been thoroughly reviewed to ensure the coverage delivered best meets the needs of clients. Monthly reviews of observer coverage have been implemented with clients to provide guidance on the optimum placement of observers in response to deviations in actual fishing activity from planned activity.
 
Efficiency and performance improvement initiatives begun in 2004/05 include the implementation of a new performance appraisal system for observers. This includes a thorough review of the observer’s performance at the end of each trip – the review serving as the basis for ongoing training and development initiatives. Another important initiative under way is the development of a capability to capture observer data electronically at sea. This will do away with the pen and paper recording of data and result in significant cost savings through having a single point of data entry (i.e. no need for shorebased data entry) and minimising rework as the data capture platform will include a built-in data validation capability. In addition to cost savings, data will be available to scientists almost immediately after the vessel returns to port.

MARINE BIOSECURITY

Following a Cabinet decision in August 2004, the Ministry’s marine biosecurity accountabilities were shifted to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry with effect from 1 November 2004. The intent behind the move was to improve the level of oversight and governance arrangements necessary to maintain the strategic direction for biosecurity in New Zealand.

EXPENDITURE WITHIN APPROPRIATIONS

The final 2004/05 output class appropriations budget, inclusive of Supplementary Estimates for Vote: Fisheries, was $87.971 million, exclusive of GST. Final expenditure for the year was $75.653 million – $12.318 million under budget. The main components of the under spend were:

• delays in the tendering of some fisheries and biodiversity research projects caused by slippage in results from related previous research projects
• the cancellation of some research projects
• the reduction in observer coverage already noted in the comments on Observer Services
• delays in receipt of information from applicants for the processing of the marine farming permit backlog.

TOWARDS 2005/08

The Ministry’s achievements in 2004/05 can be viewed as the start of the change in the strategic direction given more emphasis in the Statement of Intent for 2005-2008. Those changes will take place over the next three to five years and will require the participation of all who have an interest in fisheries management. Stakeholders can expect to have an increasing involvement as we go through that process.