Five Year Strategic Plan 2003 - 2008

ACHIEVING OUR VISION

A Single Goal
In order to achieve our vision, we are focused on a single goal or outcome for our fisheries. This goal is consistent with the purpose of the Fisheries Act 1996, " to provide for the utilisation of fisheries resources while ensuring sustainability".

Our goal: "Maximise the value New Zealanders obtain through the sustainable use of fisheries resources and protection of the aquatic environment."(fishery outcome)

Three Strategies
We have three strategies to achieve our goal and secure our vision.

Strategy 1

Protect the health of the aquatic environment by:

• developing and implementing frameworks and processes to:
• manage the effects of fishing on the aquatic environment
• maintain marine biodiversity and aquatic habitats
• avoid or manage marine biosecurity risks
• allow the government or stakeholders to take action against those who degrade the aquatic environment
• enabling New Zealanders to participate effectively in developing policies, frameworks, and standards to manage effects on, and protect, the aquatic environment.

Strategy 2

Enable people to get the best value from the sustainable and efficient use of fisheries by:

• better defining and integrating the rights and obligations of commercial, customary, recreational, and other users and allocating those rights and obligations
• maintaining the integrity of policies, frameworks, and processes to support the rights and obligations associated with fisheries use and conservation
• developing institutional frameworks and capacity for fisheries stakeholders and the public to participate effectively in fisheries management
• enabling New Zealanders to participate effectively in developing frameworks and processes for using fisheries resources and making decisions.

Strategy 3

Ensure the Crown delivers on its obligations to Māori with respect to fisheries by:

• implementing its partnership obligations
• establishing and maintaining
• effective relationships
• developing frameworks and processes to implement the 1992 Fisheries Deed of Settlement
• ensuring contemporary grievances are not created.

WORKING TOGETHER

The support and active participation of all those with an interest in fisheries resources and the aquatic environment is vital to the successful pursuit of our vision. Everyone has a role to play and our success will depend on strong productive relationships. This includes the Ministry of Fisheries, other central and local government agencies, tangata whenua, stakeholders, and the public.

Tangata Whenua And Stakeholders

The role of tangata whenua, fisheries stakeholders and the public is to:

• provide input into and participate in government decision-making processes on:
• policy and legal frameworks
• the nature and extent of fisheries and marine biosecurity services
• comply with the rules
• take greater collective responsibility for meeting the purposes and principles of the Fisheries Act 1996 through:
• developing and implementing fisheries plans that meet government standards
• delivering fisheries services to government standards and specifications.

The Ministry of Fisheries
The core role of the Ministry, in collaboration with other government agencies, is advising on and implementing government policy in the following areas of core responsibility: ensuring ecological protection and sustainability; meeting international and Treaty of Waitangi obligations; enabling efficient resource use; and ensuring the integrity of management systems. For each of these core responsibilities, some of the key functions follow.

Ensuring Ecological Sustainability

• research and monitor the health of fisheries and the aquatic environment, and the effects of fishing specify environmental standards related to the use of fisheries and the impact of fishing on the aquatic environment
• maintain the potential of fisheries resources to meet the reasonably foreseeable needs of future generations
• set, implement and enforce sustainability measures
• research and manage biosecurity risks.

Meeting Treaty Of Waitangi Obligations

• involve Māori in fisheries management decision making
• deliver 20 per cent of new quota to Māori
• provide for and protect customary fishing rights.

Enabling Efficient Resource Use

• define and allocate rights to use fisheries resources
• provide frameworks to allow rights holders to exercise those rights
• recognise and protect New Zealand's fishing and conservation interests during the negotiation of international agreements.

Ensuring The Integrity Of Management Systems

• evaluate and monitor fisheries plans
• set standards and specifications for services such as research and administration
• monitor and audit the delivery of fisheries and marine biosecurity services
• manage fisheries and aquatic environment information
• deliver criminal law enforcement and prosecution services
• ensure management and information frameworks are consistent with New Zealand's international fisheries obligations.