The Last Thirty Years
Management of New Zealand fisheries has improved greatly in the last 30 years:
| 1978: |
New Zealand established its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and assumed management control of all fishing in the EEZ. |
| 1986: |
The Quota Management System (QMS) was established to manage most major New Zealand fisheries. A further 50 species were introduced into the QMS in 2004. Species comprising 95 percent of the total commercial harvest are now managed in this way. |
| 1992: |
Mäori fishing claims arising from the Treaty of Waitangi were settled. |
| 1994: |
A cost recovery programme requiring the commercial sector to pay the full costs of the services that support their fishing and aquaculture activities was established. |
| 1995: |
Ministry of Fisheries established. Fisheries research services delivered by contract. |
| 1999: |
Contract approved for devolved Registry services contracted out to Commercial Fisheries Services Ltd (FishServe). |
| 2001: |
Implementation of key elements of the Fisheries Act 1996 including the new catch balancing regime based on Annual Catch Entitlements. Commercial Fisheries Services Ltd appointed as an Approved Service Delivery Organisation to deliver specific devolved services previously provided by Government. |
| 2004: |
Aquaculture legislation and settlement of Mäori aquaculture claims. Mäori Fisheries Act legislation enables distribution of settlement assets directly to iwi. |
| More recent key developments include: |
| 2005: |
The Government approved a Marine Protected Areas Strategy designed to maintain biodiversity across the range of New Zealand's ocean habitats.
The Minister of Fisheries: - announced the Strategy to Manage the Environmental Effects of Fishing
- approved a fisheries plan framework, to enable the Ministry co-ordinated development of objective-based management of fisheries.
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| 2006: |
Commercial sector proposed closing 31% of the EEZ to bottom trawling and dredging. First three draft standards, including harvest strategy standards, released for consultation.
Shared Fisheries proposals released for public consultation. Three proof of concept fisheries plans completed (Foveaux strait oysters, Coromandel scallops and southern blue whiting fishery). |