Challenges

Over the next few years the Ministry has to meet a number of important challenges to meet the Government's priorities of economic transformation and enhancing national identity:

• Improve engagement with all stakeholders.

• Implement objectives-based management through fisheries plans and develop associated standards.

• Progress the rights-based framework, including the management of shared fisheries.

• Continue progress on improving environmental performance, including research into bottom trawling and ecosystem effects of fishing.

• Participating in the development of a representative system of marine protection utilising a range of tools.

• Fulfil our obligations under the Deed of Settlement and Māori aquaculture settlement, and extend our Treaty settlement capacity.

• Participate in initiatives to assist stakeholders to maximise value, including through the Government's Growth and Innovation Framework.

• Improve the compliance levels within the Fisheries Act 1996 and Regulations.

• Reduce the incidence of illegal, unregulated, unreported fishing.

• Promote improved frameworks for international fisheries management and improved access for New Zealand fishers.

• Seek improvements in marine sector management arrangements through initiatives including Oceans Policy.