Departmental Output Expense – Fisheries Operations

Scope of appropriation

Services to provide advice to the Minister on appropriate standards defining acceptable impacts of fishing, and appropriate allocation of rights to utilise fisheries and services to assist tangata whenua to better contribute to the sustainable management of New Zealand’s fisheries.

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.

Sustainability and Management Controls

This output provides for fisheries management advice on sustainability and management controls through:

implementation of objectives-based fisheries management by developing fisheries plans and standards
implementation of the Government’s Marine Protected Areas Strategy
concurrence advice on marine reserve applications and advice on other spatial applications
advice on proposed aquaculture management areas
implementation of regulatory amendments and sustainability measures
implementation of the Government’s aquaculture reforms
input into marine biosecurity strategy, planning on the fishing-related impacts of biosecurity decisions
advice on measures to mitigate the impacts of fishing on the environment
advice and support to international fisheries forums.

Expected achievement		Actual results
Advice papers provided to the Minister.	250–350	128 papers prepared.
Minister is satisfied with the quality of advice received, measured by Ministerial feedback.	95%	No adverse comments identified.
Fish plans development:		Given organisational change decisions, a number of fishery plans are being revised and will now be subject to consultation in the 2009/10 financial year. For 2008/09:
Number with agreed objectives and management strategies	5 by 30 June 2009	The Foveaux Strait Dredge Oyster Fisheries Plan has been approved. The Fisheries Plan for Southern Shellfisheries has been approved for consultation.
Further inshore plans initiated	5 by 30 June 2009	The inshore, deepwater, and highly migratory fisheries plans currently underway are completing objectives and assessing the fishery against the objectives.
Progress middle-depth and deepwater plans and highly migratory fish plan.	By 30 June 2009	The plans for Hoki and Orange Roughy 3B, North Island West Coast Finfish, and highly migratory species and skipjack are not yet finalised.
Consistency with fisheries standards.	All plans reviewed	An assessment and approval process for fish plans has been finalised.
Fisheries standards: Standards approved (harvest strategy, benthic impacts, seabirds, Hector’s/Maui’s dolphins, and sea lions).	5	The Harvest Strategy has been approved. A further three standards are underway: The Hectors/Maui’s Dolphin Threat Management Plan has been implemented, but is subject to litigation by commercial fishers. Judgment was not available at the time of this report. The Seabird National Plan of Action and standard are being discussed with stakeholders with draft proposals due out by September 2009. Work on the Benthic Impact Strategy will start in the first quarter of 2009/10. Sea lions continue to be managed through an annual operating plan in consultation with the Department of Conservation.
Lead government response to Aquaculture strategy.	Maintain governance structures to progress response	Governance structures working well. The Chief Executives Steering Group for Aquaculture and industry/government Aquaculture Forum meet as required to oversee work on aquaculture.
Work with stakeholders to identify and progress priority opportunities for aquaculture development.	Priorities identified and initiatives progressed in accordance with priorities	Work is progressing on the priority projects of: a plan change to allow experimental aquaculture in Waikato a project to investigate suitable sites for aquaculture development in Northland assistance with council planning for finfish farms in Marlborough assistance with facilitation of voluntary agreements between commercial fishers and aquaculture applications in the Tasman Region investigation of offshore aquaculture potential.
Foster public confidence in aquaculture.	Implement communications plan	Communications plan operating well. Government website and publication on aquaculture well received.
Facilitate development of the industry strategic research plan.	Research plan developed	Not achieved. Industry are finalising their research plan, after input from government and other stakeholders.
Complete outstanding permit applications.	All residual applications under Fisheries Act 1983 and transitional provisions completed (subject to applicants providing required information)	Completing outstanding permit applications: 12 applications completed. 15 applications remain. The Ministry aims to complete 13 of these by 31 December 2009, subject to applicants providing the necessary scientific research (the other two applications should be completed by June 2010). The Ministry may also receive additional applications when regional councils or the Environment Court approve outstanding coastal permit applications. The Ministry is also progressing the Waikato Interim Aquaculture Management Area (AMA) application, with a final decision expected in August 2009.
Reform statutory framework for aquaculture.	Reforms progress, in accordance with Cabinet directions	The progress of the reforms is being achieved in accordance with Cabinet directions.
Certification of wild fisheries and aquaculture:
Independent assessment of NZ fisheries management regime	Completed by 30 June 2009	The Marine Stewardship Council has decided not to develop and implement policy to enable generic assessment to be undertaken, and consequently, an independent assessment of NZ Fisheries Management regime will now not be sought.
Information to support certification proposals	Provided as and when required	Providing information support for Deepwater, Challenger Scallop and Albacore Tuna proposals for certification.
Contestable fund	Established and operating	The second round of funding for the contestable fund has been completed and the panel’s recommendation drafted. Advice on stakeholder funding provided to the Minister. The Minister has decided not to fund stakeholders and not fund in-kind costs for applicants. Funding for the next round will be 75% of the assessment and certification fee.
Develop standards for sustainable aquaculture.	Advice on standards provided	Literature reviews have been completed on the effects of shellfish and finfish aquaculture on the marine environment of New Zealand. The Ministry is consulting with other government departments and industry about the best way to implement standards for sustainable aquaculture. The review of the aquaculture law will also influence the need for standards and the best way to implement those standards.

Deed of settlement implemented

The Ministry provides a range of services to assist tangata whenua to better contribute to the sustainable management of New Zealand fisheries.

These include:

building and maintaining relationships, and assisting them to engage in fisheries management processes and the development of fisheries plans
the effective use of the Ministry’s Pou Hononga in notifying and appointing Tangata Tiaki and Tangata Kaitiaki to manage customary fishing
developing capacity within tangata whenua to manage access and, by the effective use of the Ministry’s Pou Takawaenga, to provide assistance with the use of fisheries management tools
developing capacity to undertake the management of fisheries arising from the historic settlement or foreshore and seabed agreements
implementing agreements between the Crown and tangata whenua including protocols and accords under Treaty settlements and foreshore and seabed agreements.

Expected achievement		Actual results
Input and participation of tangata whenua into fisheries management processes by engaging with hapū and iwi through the creation and operation of Regional Iwi Forums.	Increase number of forums from 11 to 13	With Te Ika a Maui (North Island Freshwater Forum) being dis-established as a Forum but with Ngāti Porou now established as a Foreshore and Seabed Implementation Committee, there are eleven fisheries forums, one of which services Ngāi Tahu with seven regional ‘clusters’.
Managing the processes associated with the appointment of:
Tangata Kaitiaki confirmed by the Minister of Fisheries under the Fisheries (Kaimoana Customary Fishing) Regulations 1998	Extend coverage in the North Island and the Chatham Islands from 30% to 45% by June 2009	Not achieved. Coverage increased by 20% from 27 areas being managed under the kaimoana customary fishing regulations to 32 areas.
Tangata Tiaki confirmed by the Minister of Fisheries under the Fisheries (South Island Customary Fishing) Regulations 1999.	Extend coverage from 90% to 95% by June 2009	Target not achieved. No increase in coverage.
Provision of quarterly catch landing reports by Tangata Kaitiaki and Tangata Tiaki.	The number of reports will be increased by not less than 25%	Catch landing data returns for the year more than met the target, with 100% of the South Island and 92% of North Island returns being provided. The Ministry continues to focus on ensuring that reports are submitted.

Registry services and permits

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.

Other services include:

The issue of
- freshwater farm licences
- fish transfer authorisations
- special permits
- high seas permits
Decisions on requests for aquaculture permits under the Fisheries Act 1983.

Expected achievement		Actual results
Approving applications made under Fisheries laws
Applications for: Licences under the Freshwater Fish Farming Regulations 1983	95% determined within 6 months of application	Fish-farm licences: received 13 applications. Two licence applications are on hold pending further information, the rest are completed or being processed under target. Salmon transfers: 30 received, all completed under target.
Fish farm registration under the Fisheries Act 1996		45 applications received and being processed within the timeframes.
Special permits under the Fisheries Act 1996		Special permits: 36 applications processed, all within 6 months of application; 6 applications remain to be processed.
Monitoring of contracted and devolved services
Services delivered are materially error-free and delivered in a timely manner	Services are monitored against Ministry standards and specifications	Monthly performance reporting is currently being reviewed by the Ministry in consultation with the Service Delivery Agency and the Approved Service Delivery Organisation.
All significant errors are corrected	100%	No significant errors were identified.
Quota allocation
Quota is allocated for new species coming into the quota management system	Within the required timeframes	Redbait stocks will enter the QMS on 1 October 2009. Quota allocation processes are on track.

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Updated : 3 November 2009