Five Year Strategic Plan 2003 - 2008

PART TWO - MINISTRY OF FISHERIES CONTRIBUTION

OUR MISSION

To be the guardian of the multitudes of Tangaroa

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Our mission is expressed by our Māori name - Te Tautiaki i nga tini a Tangaroa - which means "The Guardian of the Multitudes of Tangaroa".

Consistent with our mission, we aspire to be a leader in the New Zealand public service and fisheries sector, and a high-performing organisation. In this way, we work to earn the respect of Ministers, other government departments, tangata whenua, stakeholders and the public. We also seek to be respected internationally as a world-leading fisheries management and marine biosecurity agency.

We will:

• work collaboratively with other central and local government agencies in the government's collective interests
• invest in our people and our assets to ensure our readiness for the future development of the New Zealand public sector
• actively involve tangata whenua, stakeholders and the public in our work in cost-effective ways
• create an organisational environment to maximise the:
• contribution of our people
• quality of our relationships
• cost-effectiveness of our services.

OUR VALUES

Our mission is an important one and a privilege. Fulfilling that mission, and earning respect nationally and internationally as the guardian of the multitudes of Tangaroa, requires strong and consistent values within the Ministry.

Our values are:

• we are proud to be part of the New Zealand Public Service and will maintain the highest standards of professional behaviour. We will:
• fulfil our lawful obligations to government with professionalism and integrity
• perform our official duties honestly, faithfully and effectively, respecting the rights and interests of the public and our colleagues
• not bring the Ministry or the public service into disrepute through our private activities.
• we recognise the status of Māori as tangata whenua. Our behaviour will, at all times, be consistent with the responsibilities of the Crown as partner to the Treaty of Waitangi and our specific legal obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi (Fisheries Claims) Settlement Act 1992 and the Fisheries Act 1996.
• in our day-to-day work, we will act in ways consistent with our behavioural values:

Leadership
We will develop effective and innovative ways to help people contribute to, and support, the Ministry deliver on its mission.

Relationships And People
We will develop, internally and externally, constructive and collaborative relationships built on trust.

Working In Teams
We will share information and knowledge through exceptional teamwork and networking.

Achieving Results
We will create an organisation that encourages and recognises people's contribution to our achievements and dedication to our mission.

POLICY DIRECTION

Consistent with our intention to build on the strengths of our existing policy framework, tangata whenua and fisheries stakeholders and other interested parties will be familiar with much of the policy direction included here.

Existing and new policies support at least one of our three strategies for achieving our goal. These strategies are:

• the aquatic environment strategy - protecting the health of the aquatic environment
• The best value strategy - enabling people to get the best value from the sustainable and efficient use of fisheries resources
• the Treaty strategy - ensuring the Crown delivers on its obligations to Māori with respect to fisheries.

The Aquatic Environment Strategy

Existing Policies To Be Continued

We will:

• maintain the integrity of the management frameworks, including statutory processes, decisions, and services that protect the health of the aquatic environment
• continue to develop an ecosystem approach to fisheries to avoid or manage adverse effects of fishing on the aquatic environment
• provide or contract services to achieve optimal levels of compliance that protect the health of the aquatic environment (including biosecurity and marine protected area rules) by maximising voluntary compliance with fishery laws and maintaining an effective deterrence against illegal activity
• provide information and management advice to the Minister on the adverse effects of fishing on the aquatic environment
• implement the Ministry of Fisheries' environmental management strategy
• implement relevant parts of population management plans developed by the Department of Conservation for marine mammals, seabirds and other protected species
• help implement the New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy in the marine environment, including the ongoing implementation of:
• the purpose and principles of the Fisheries Act 1996, and the Marine Protected Area Strategy
• help develop and implement New Zealand's Biosecurity Strategy.

Existing Policies To Be Monitored

We will monitor policies against stated operational standards and policy outcomes. Specifically, we will evaluate:

• the use of environmental indicators and other measures to monitor the health of the ecosystem
• the effectiveness of maximum sustainable yield as a stock management target
• frameworks and measures for managing the effects of fishing on the aquatic environment
• the implementation and effectiveness of the Biodiversity Strategy in the marine environment.

New Policies To Be Developed

We will:

• help develop an integrated management framework to address adverse effects on the aquatic environment resulting from non-fishing use - including land-based activities - and determine an appropriate role for the Ministry
• establish and implement environmental standards to underpin fisheries management decisions and service delivery ? enhance the specification of fisheries use rights, including developing a framework that requires fishers to pay for any damage to the environment they cause, and for the full cost of services from which they benefit
• explore frameworks and policies for:
• taking civil and other action against those who damage the aquatic environment
• placing the burden of proof on fishers to demonstrate that any adverse effects on the aquatic environment from exercising their rights can be avoided or are within acceptable limits.

The Best Value Strategy

Existing Policies To Be Continued

We will:

• maintain the integrity of the management frameworks, including statutory processes, decisions, and services that underpin the sustainable use of fisheries resources
• provide or contract services to achieve optimal levels of compliance by maximising voluntary compliance with fisheries laws and maintaining an effective deterrence against illegal activity
• provide advice to the Minister on the status, sustainable management and allocation of fish stocks
• promote the use of and evaluate fisheries plans developed by fisheries stakeholders
• develop and implement stock harvesting strategies for all stocks not covered by an approved fisheries plan
• contribute to the development of international agreements relating to the sustainable use of fisheries, protection of the aquatic environment, and improved seafood trade opportunities
• implement government policy decisions relating to:
• aquaculture
• commercial fishing
• customary fishing
• recreational fishing
• distant water fishing
• marine biosecurity
• non-extractive use of and values related to fisheries resources
• international obligations relating to fisheries
• implement frameworks for allocating fisheries access and management rights
• determine future management arrangements for fish species and, where appropriate, transfer species into the Quota Management System.

Existing Policies To Be Monitored

We will monitor policies against stated operational standards and policy outcomes. Specifically, we will:

• evaluate the effectiveness of Individual Transferable Quotas
• evaluate the effectiveness of contestable, outsourced or devolved fisheries services.

New Policies To Be Developed

We will:

• evaluate the potential and need for a framework for environmental certification of New Zealand fisheries, including determining an appropriate role for the Ministry
• continue to develop and implement risk-based fisheries decision-making frameworks
• develop frameworks to allow the permit moratorium to be lifted while ensuring the sustainable and efficient use of fisheries resources, and protection of the aquatic environment
• develop frameworks and policies to manage New Zealand's distant water fishing interests
• investigate options for managing non-extractive uses of fisheries resources
• develop appropriate institutional frameworks to improve opportunities for fisheries rights holders to exercise their responsibilities collectively and manage those who do not abide by collective decisions
• enhance the fisheries cost recovery regime
• contribute to building fisheries sector capability
• contribute to the development of frameworks and policies for marine bio-prospecting
• develop frameworks and processes to improve the definition of recreational fishers' access and management rights and obligations
• contribute to the development of New Zealand's oceans policy
• investigate mechanisms to improve public
• involvement in fisheries management
• develop the interface between aquaculture and wild fisheries harvesting.