Additional services for 2006/07

The Ministry has five proposed additional services for the 2006/07 financial year. These are:

Support for the development of an objective-based fisheries management approach

This will be implemented through the expanded development of fisheries plans. The proposed programme promotes greater involvement by stakeholders, and is more transparent and efficient.

Implementation of the Government's marine protected area strategy (MPA)

This policy, which is being implemented jointly by the Ministry of Fisheries and the Department of Conservation, promotes an integrated approach to marine protection and to achieve the Government's goal of a comprehensive and representative network of MPAs, protecting 10 percent of biodiversity by 2020.

Illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing (IUU)

The funding for this initiative represents New Zealand's contribution to a three-year pilot project, designed to detect, prevent and eliminate IUU fishing. It is strategically important for New Zealand because three of the species targeted by IUU fishers - Patagonian Toothfish, Orange Roughy and Tuna - are immediately adjacent to New Zealand's fisheries waters.

Improved information on effects of bottom trawling and ecosystem effects of fishing

This will increase our understanding of the effects of bottom trawling on seabed habitat and aspects of biodiversity, and develop an understanding of the wider consequences of fishing for ecosystem functioning and fisheries productivity.

Settlement negotiations capacity

This initiative is intended to increase the Ministry of Fisheries' capacity to participate and positively contribute to the settlement of individual treaty claims. It is also intended to provide capacity for the Ministry to support the Crown's initiatives to address applications by whānau, hapū and iwi for Territorial Customary Rights and Customary Rights Orders.

The following table shows the new services and the associated costs for 2006/07. Although none of the services are directly subject to cost recovery, there will be slightly lower cost recovery levies due to a wider spread of Ministry overheads on increased total output costs.

These initiatives have been included in the Estimates for 2006/07. The Ministry will consult on them immediately following the tabling of Budget 2006, with a final determination to be made by the Minister of Fisheries on these proposed changes to the nature and extent of fisheries services for 2006/07 by the end of June 2006.