Nature and Scope of Functions

Role

The role of the Ministry of Fisheries is to:

• Be the Government’s principal adviser on fisheries management.
    
  In this role, the Ministry provides advice on policy and statutory decisions about New Zealand fisheries management and aquaculture, and advice in relation to New Zealand’s position on international fisheries management.
   
• Provide or purchase services to maintain the effective management of New Zealand’s fisheries.
  
  In this role, the Ministry:
   
  • provides compliance services, including education, enforcement and prosecution
  • provides observer services
  • purchases research and registry services
  • provides oversight and quality assurance of scientific research
  • collects catch effort, area, method and other fisheries information
  • monitors delivery of contracted and devolved fisheries registry services.
      
• Discharge the Crown’s obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi (Fisheries Claims) Settlement Act 1992, the Māori Fisheries Act 2004 and the Māori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act 2004.

An aquaculture business unit, to be established within the Ministry of Fisheries, will be the Government’s principal adviser on marine and land-based aquaculture.

Scope of operations

The Ministry administers the following legislation:

• Fisheries Act 1996 (and residual parts of the Fisheries Act 1983)
• Treaty of Waitangi (Fisheries Claims) Settlement Act 1992
• Fisheries (Quota Operations Validation) Act 1997
• Māori Fisheries Act 2004
• Māori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act 2004
• Aquaculture Reform (Repeals and Transitional Provisions) Act 2004
• Driftnet Prohibition Act 1991
• The Antarctic Marine Living Resources Act 1981.

The Ministry also administers many regulations related to managing fisheries within New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and managing New Zealand’s fishing activity internationally.