2.3 Roles

Effective fisheries management relies on active participation of all those with an interest in fisheries resources and the aquatic environment. The Mfish Strategic Plan sets out the expected roles of different participants in fisheries management.

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.

Ministry of Fisheries

The core role of Mfish, 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.