International Fisheries Policy Advice Provided

Services to be provided

The Ministry's International team provides the following services in order to further New Zealand's fisheries policy objectives and interests internationally:

1. Policy advice
   Policy advice is provided to the Minister on a broad range of international fisheries issues including the development of international principles and standards to promote the sustainable use of fisheries resources, New Zealand's negotiating position in regional fisheries management organisations, and the advancement of New Zealand's fisheries interests multilaterally and bilaterally including trade policy. Much of this advice is developed in consultation and collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade for provision to joint Ministers.
   
   Key policy issues include Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing, protection of marine biodiversity on the high seas, fisheries management and allocation issues within Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs), and the performance of RFMOs. Advice is often centred around New Zealand's negotiating position on key issues in advance of international fisheries meetings, and the seeking of endorsement and direction from Ministers in advance of those meetings.
    
2. Representing New Zealand
   Following endorsement of New Zealand's policy positions, the International team then advances those positions by representing New Zealand internationally. The International team actively engages in multilateral forums such as the United Nations, the FAO, the WTO and the OECD to negotiate improved principles and standards to promote the sustainable use of fisheries resources. International plays a lead role in negotiations in regional fisheries management organisations (CCAMLR, CCSBT, WCPFC, SPRFMO) to ensure sustainable use and secure access for the New Zealand fishing sector. International staff also represent New Zealand in bilateral fisheries discussions and negotiations including in the context of bilateral cooperation arrangements and trade access negotiations for New Zealand fisheries products.
   
   Depending on the context, the Ministry's International team either leads New Zealand's delegations to international forums or actively participates in delegations led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The number of meetings and the nature of the International team's involvement in New Zealand's delegations to those meetings provide an indicator of the extent to which the International team is engaged in representing New Zealand in international fisheries forums.
   
   An important component of the team's role, and a key contributor to the team's effectiveness, is the forming and maintaining of strong working relationships with counterparts in other countries and with individuals working within multilateral organisations and RFMO Secretariats.
   
   Outcomes of discussions and negotiations will be reported back to Ministers at the conclusion of significant international meetings, including the extent to which New Zealand's primary objectives were met. While New Zealand delegations have limited ability to control the outcomes of international meetings, the extent to which New Zealand has been able to influence the outcomes of those meetings will be reflected in the report back.
    
3. Capacity development with Pacific Island countries
   The International team leads and coordinates the Ministry's input into capacity building work with Pacific Islands countries, including work with the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA). The Ministry's Capacity Development Framework sets out how the Ministry works with Pacific Island countries with a focus on Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau and Tonga, including the aim of establishing enduring relationships between the Ministry and fisheries departments in those countries to assist in long term cooperation. The team works closely with NZAID on the fisheries related aspects of New Zealand's overseas development assistance (ODA) to Pacific Island countries.

Capacity

In 2007/08, an estimated 16,400 hours of Ministry resource will be used to produce the services listed above.

Performance indicators

1. All briefing papers and reports to the Minister will comply with the Ministry's quality standards for analysis and advice outlined in this document. The Minister will be formally requested, at agreed intervals during the year, to indicate his or her level of satisfaction with the overall quality of the outputs produced based on these standards. Whenever possible, advice papers will be provided at least 2 weeks in advance of international meetings to ensure that Ministers have sufficient time to consider the issues and make the necessary decisions. Reporting at agreed intervals during year will enable the Minister to assess actual performance in output delivery against expectations.
   
2. It is expected that the International team will provide advice in relation to and representative of New Zealand's interests at approximately 20 multilateral or regional meetings of 3 days to 2 weeks duration, annually.
   
3. Capacity building initiatives with Pacific Island countries will be conducted in accordance with the Ministry's Capacity Development Framework (which includes monitoring and evaluation provisions) and, where finalised, under the terms of high level cooperation arrangements between the Ministry and its Pacific Island counterparts. Feedback will be sought, both from the countries and/or agencies themselves and from NZAID, on the extent to which the Ministry's capacity building work is achieving positive results and contributing to desired outcomes.

Cost