Publications & Reports
Annual Reports
Annual Report 2009
Welcome to the Ministry's Annual Report 2008/09
The Ministry’s Role
Chief Executive’s Overview
Fisheries 2030
Repositioning the Ministry
Government’s Priorities and Line-by-line Review
Fisheries Policy and Management Achievements during the Year
Treaty Strategy and Obligations to Māori
Aquaculture Reforms
Natural Resource Sector
International Fisheries
The State of New Zealand’s Fisheries
Compliance Services
Improving Environmental Performance
Observer Programme
Litigation
Building Our Capability
Outcome 1: The Health of the Aquatic Environment is Protected
Outcome 2: People are able to realise the best value from the Sustainable and Efficient use of Fisheries
Outcome 3: Credible Fisheries Management
Organisational Health and Capability

Litigation

In late May 2009, the Supreme Court issued its judgment in the long-standing legal challenge by recreational fishers against the previous Minister’s decisions on total allowable catch (TAC) and total allowable commercial catch (TACC) for kahawai stocks for the 2004/05 and 2005/06 fishing years.

The Court – by way of a majority of four Judges to one – dismissed the appeals that had been advanced by the recreational interests and confirmed that questions of allocation are ultimately a matter of judgment for the Minister. The Court also noted that that the Fisheries Act 1996 does not confer any priority for any sectoral interest over the other. Once again, it is a matter of judgment for the Minister.

Following on from this judgment, the Ministry will review the existing TAC, allocations and bag limits for kahawai as part of the 2010 sustainability round.

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Updated : 4 November 2009