Departmental Output Expense - Fisheries Information

Description

This departmental output expense covers research that is largely science based (primarily stock assessments and environmental assessments), and other activities relating to gathering and analysing data about New Zealand's fisheries to support decisions about sustainable utilisation, as well as the provision of information on the biodiversity of New Zealand's marine environment. Research costs represent existing projects that have been consulted on in past years, and proposed new projects.

Objectives

Provide the information required to ensure the sustainable use of New Zealand's fisheries resources by scientifically evaluating:

• the status of fisheries resources
• sustainable yields from fisheries resources
• the effects of fishing on the aquatic environment, including on the viability of associated or dependent species, and on biological diversity
• alternative strategies for achieving the desired level of yield while avoiding, remedying or mitigating adverse effects of fishing on the aquatic environment
• relevant cultural factors that may need to be included in the management decision process
• specific measures needed to implement the appropriate management strategy.