Departmental Output Expense – Fisheries Operations
Description
This departmental output expense provides for:
- The development of standards, guidelines, regulations, fisheries plans and processes that make fisheries policy operational
- Services to monitor the delivery of contracted and devolved registry services to ensure consistency and compliance with contracted or devolved standards
- Delivering on obligations arising from the Fisheries Deed of Settlement obligations
- The management and dissemination of information received from registry agencies
- Management of a number of Ministry statutory decision processes
- A capacity to contribute to the formulation of strategic goals for the biosecurity system
- A capability to contribute to the New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy.
Objectives
This departmental output expense is designed to achieve:
- Appropriate standards defining acceptable impacts of fishing
- Appropriate allocation of rights to utilise fisheries
- Objective-based fisheries plans that maximise value from fisheries
- Effective participation for tangata whenua in fisheries management.
New Zealand fisheries utilisation and sustainability planned and reported
Services to be provided
This provides for fisheries management advice on utilisation and sustainability through:
- Maintenance of the rights-based structure
- Development and implementation of fisheries plans and standards
- Implementation of the Government’s Marine Protected Areas Strategy
- Advice on marine reserve applications
- Advice on proposed aquaculture management areas
- Implementation of regulatory amendments
- Implementation of the Government’s aquaculture reforms
- Advice on the fishing-related impacts of biosecurity decisions
- Advice on the management tools used to protect biodiversity.
| Expected Results |
Actual Results |
Develop fisheries plans and standards in accordance with timeframes agreed with iwi and stakeholders. |
Fisheries Plan Advisory Groups, comprising of representatives from tangata whenua, commercial, recreational and the environment sectors, and the Ministry are working on seven fisheries plans:
- Northland Scallops
- Northwest Finfish
- Rock Lobster in Area 3 (Gisborne/East Coast)
- Challenger Finfish
- Southern Shellfish
- Paua in area 5A (Fiordland)
- Pelagic fisheries (including tuna and game fish).
The focus for the deepwater and middle depth groups is hoki, orange roughy/oreo and squid.
The Threat Management Plan for Hector’s and Maui’s dolphins was approved by the Minister in May 2008 and is now being implemented
Final advice is being prepared for the Minister on the draft National Plan of Action for Sharks.
A draft seabird standard and revised National plan of Action for Seabirds has been consulted on and submissions are being analysed and discussed with key stakeholders. |
Provide concurrence reports on marine reserve applications to the Minister of Fisheries following receipt of a request by the Minister of Conservation within a timeframe agreed with the Minister of Fisheries for each request, and within the terms of the Marine Reserves Protocol. |
On 15 May 2008 the Minister of Fisheries announced his decision not to concur with the establishment of the Great Barrier Island Marine Reserve. |
Provide final advice papers to the Minister of Fisheries on proposed sustainability measures and management controls, and new species to be introduced into the QMS in sufficient time to implement decisions prior to the relevant fishing year. |
Final advice to the Minister in relation to the 1 October 2007 fishing year was provided on 5 September 2007. Changes to harvest limits were gazetted on 27 September 2007.
Final advice was also provided to the Minister in relation to the to the 1 April 2008 sustainability round. Changes were gazetted and implemented on 1 April 2008. |
Provide advice and support from a fisheries management perspective on the formulation of strategic goals for the marine biosecurity system and advice on biosecurity risks. |
The Ministry has provided advice to Biosecurity New Zealand on a range of marine biosecurity issues during the year, including:
- a response to the biosecurity surveillance strategy 2020
- participation with other central and local government agencies in evaluation of bids to develop a Top of the South” Nelson/Marlborough marine biosecurity strategy
- comment on import risk analysis reports.
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Undertake work to finalise Stage One of the Marine Protected Areas Policy and implement Stage Two by 31 December 2007, in accordance with the work programme for the implementation of the Policy. |
Consultation on the proposed classification system and protection standard commenced in late June 2007. Cabinet has confirmed its approach. There remain differences in interpretation of the protection standard between the Ministry and the Department of Conservation. These are being worked through. |
All advice to decision-makers will be delivered in accordance with the standards for policy advice |
The Ministry believes that all quality policy standards have been met. |
Deed of settlement implemented
Services to be provided
Assist tangata whenua to better contribute to the sustainable management of New Zealand fisheries, through the effective use of the Ministry’s Pou Hononga, Pou Takawaenga and fisheries analyst resources. An important aspect of their work involves assisting in the process for the appointment of Tangata Tiaki and Tangata Kaitiaki. Building and maintaining our relationship with tangata whenua and assisting them to engage in the development of fisheries plans is an important way in which the Ministry discharges its obligations for encouraging participation from iwi.
The services we provide also include developing capacity within tangata whenua to manage customary access and to provide assistance with use of customary management tools.
| Expected Results |
Actual Results |
Tangata Tiaki appointments by the Minister of Fisheries, under the Fisheries (South Island Customary Fishing) Regulations 1999, cover 90% of the South Island by June 2008. |
Te Tau Ihu Fisheries Forum continues to work on resolving opposition within its membership to the appointment of Tangata Tiaki across the top of the South Island. |
Tangata Kaitiaki appointments by the Minister of Fisheries, under the Fisheries (Kaimoana Customary Fishing) Regulations 1998, cover 40% of the North Island by June 2008. |
Progress towards the target continues. One new area/rohe moana, from the Whareama River to the Pahaoa River in Wairarapa, was established during 2007-08, with Tangata Kaitiaki appointments confirmed for Ngāti Hamua and Ngāi Tāmapuhiārangi. In addition, appointments were confirmed for Ngāti Tāhinga as represented by the Weraroa Marae (Otehe to the Kaawa Stream). |
| Increased provision of quarterly catch landing reports of Tangata Kaitiaki and Tangata Tiaki appointed under the Fisheries (Kaimoana Customary Fishing) Regulations 1998 or the Fisheries (South Island Customary Fishing) Regulations 1999. |
Effort continues to be extended to ensure more Tangata Kaitiaki are submitting quarterly returns. Work is ongoing in respect to inputting quality data into the customary database. |
Increased input and participation of tangata whenua into fisheries management processes (detailed in s 12 of the Fisheries Act 1996) by engaging with hapü and iwi through the creation and operation of 13 regional forums. |
Eleven regional iwi forums have been established. Opportunity for input and participation into fisheries management process is being provided through these forums. |
Advice is provided to the Minister of Fisheries, as required, on the establishment of mātaitai reserves, taiapure-local fisheries and on other area management proposals. |
During the year, the Ministry has submitted advice papers to the Minister to:
- reinstate a closure of the Kaipara Harbour to the take of scallops for a further one-year period. This came into effect on 14 September 2007
- reinstate a closure at Mt Maunganui to the take of green-lipped mussels for a further two-year period. This came into effect on 7 December 2007
- extend the western boundary of the Raukokore (East Cape) Mātaitai Reserve. This came into effect on 16 November 2007
- introduce a mātaitai reserve for the area between Kaka Point and Nugget Point. This came into effect on 3 April 2008
- introduce a mātaitai reserve for Aotea Harbour and adjoining waters. This came into effect on 8 May 2008.
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Statutory decision processes administered
Services to be provided
This output provides for:
- the issue of freshwater farm licences
- the issue of fish transfer authorisations
- the issue of special permits
- the management of transitional aquaculture registrations under the Fisheries Act 1996.
| Expected Results |
Actual Results |
95% of all applications made under the Freshwater Fish Farming Regulations 1983, transitional issues and applications for fish farm registration under the Fisheries Act 1996 will be determined within six months of the date of receipt. |
Completed: 13 applications (10 renewals, 2 variations, and 1 new licence application; 1 renewal withdrawn). Applications on hand – 1 variation (less than 6 months). 3 koura fish farm renewals held due to koura legislation issues. |
95% of applications for special permits will be determined within six months of the date of receipt of completed applications and to the following prescription:
- appropriate consultation is carried out in accordance with section 97(2) of the Fisheries Act 1996 on each application, prior to a decision to approve or decline the application
- the purpose for which a special permit is issued is consistent
with those specified in section 97(1) of the Fisheries Act 1996 - in compliance with the procedures in the Special Permit Manual.
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Completed: 41 applications – all within 6 months (40 permits or amendments issued; 1 application withdrawn).
Applications on hand: 9
2 of the undecided applications are older than 6 months: one because a new purpose is being developed; and one because the research proposal has required two revisions |
Aquaculture permit applications processed
Services to be provided
This output provides for fisheries management advice on management of the backlog of permit applications under the Fisheries Act 1983.
| Expected Results |
Actual Results |
The Ministry will resolve all applications made under the Fisheries Act 1983 by 30 June 2008. |
In 2007/08, the Ministry made 17 final decisions (3 were for large applications).
23 applications remain; the Ministry aims to resolve 22 of these by 30 June 2009 (1 application is on hold until resource consent monitoring is completed in 2009). |
As and when required, a reservation or determination is issued within the timeframes set in section 186E of the Fisheries Act 1996 to the relevant regional council following receipt of advice from the council that an aquaculture management area is proposed. |
A preliminary decision was made on one interim Aquaculture Management Area application from Tasman District Council but the 6 month timeframe for a final decision was not met because:
- a technical amendment to the law is required (this is being progressed)
- the application is large, comprising 3 AMAs, in 2 separate bays; in effect, it is 3 applications in one
- more information (research) was required
- analysing all available information is complex and time consuming.
The Ministry has received a request for an aquaculture decision on the Waikato Interim AMA. This request is on hold while more environmental research is being done. It is expected that the application will be completed within the 6 month timeframe once additional research is received. |
Registry services managed
Services to be provided
Accurate and timely registry information (including permit holder register, vessel registers, quota and ACE ownership, and catch data) is collected under contract or by a devolved agency to support sustainability and utilisation decisions within each fishery. The Ministry is required to ensure contracted or devolved registry services are delivered in a manner consistent with the standards and specifications for those services. These services also include the administration and registry services aspects of the introduction of new species into the Quota Management System.
| Expected Results |
Actual Results |
Contracted and devolved services are delivered in a manner consistent with the relevant standards and specifications as held by the Ministry. |
Approved standards and specifications are in place for the delivery of both contracted and devolved services.
Monthly reports have been received for each of the relevant months and have not identified any material errors in performance. Any errors that have been identified have been addressed at the time and appropriately resolved. |
| Allocate quota for species declared by the Minister to be subject to the Quota Management System in accordance with Part IV of the Fisheries Act 1996 and within the quality and timeframes defined in the Ministry’s Stock Allocation Policy in respect of that species and stock. |
The Minister has not declared that any species will become subject to the QMS during 2008. |