Operating Intentions

Build increasingly trusted and effective fisheries management

What are we seeking to achieve?

The Ministry is seeking to achieve internationally recognised, world-leading fisheries management. Ensuring that New Zealanders understand their rights and responsibilities and act accordingly requires a trusted and effective fisheries management regime. This involves demonstrating integrity and transparency of decision-making, being cost-effective in the services delivered, reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens, and ensuring that all activities align with Government priorities and Fisheries 2030. This outcome contributes directly to all the fisheries sector supporting outcomes.

The Ministry is part of the Natural Resources Sector Network and is committed to taking an integrated approach to natural resources development across Government agencies. This outcome strongly links to the Government’s priorities of “removing red tape and improving regulation” and “lifting productivity and improving services in the public sector.”

How will we demonstrate success in achieving this?

The Ministry, informed by stakeholders, will develop sector outcome indicators that will be monitored and evaluated along with our performance against Ministry outcomes. Together these indicators will allow us to identify progress in ensuring the fisheries management regime is effective.

The use of public perception surveys, such as the biannual Lincoln University study on public perceptions of the state of New Zealand’s environment, can provide a basis for an assessment of the Ministry’s performance. Surveys like this, along with monitoring the number of multiple-agency initiatives that the Ministry is involved in, and the membership of New Zealand in international and regional forums, can provide an indication of our success in this area.

Success in the Natural Resources Sector Network will be measured by Ministers’ reports that joined-up advice is delivered to them in priority areas of water, aquaculture, environmental governance, climate change and Treaty of Waitangi issues. The quality and level of integration of policy advice should also show improvement over time. The Economy and Environment Principles developed by the Network should also be reflected in advice on key policy issues.

Indicators of the Ministry’s success in improving stakeholder understanding of rights and responsibilities will be the number of education sessions held at schools, shows (for example boating and fishing shows) and other venues, the quantity of educational material distributed, and the number of offences committed by people who have previously received a warning from compliance officers. This final indicator will be based on the records of frontline enforcement staff and indicates the proportion of offending that persists after the perpetrator has been informed of their responsibilities.

What will we do to achieve this?

The Ministry is currently undertaking a regulatory review aimed at improving cost-effectiveness and delivering better value for money for service delivery. The Ministry also facilitates the development of Fisheries Assessment Plenaries that are released each year (November and May) containing stock assessment information.

The Ministry is developing indicators for the Fisheries 2030 sector outcomes and governance conditions. These indicators will allow the Ministry to monitor the performance of the sector and identify specific areas which may need to be the focus of further attention for the sector in general, and more specifically, the Ministry. It is intended that the performance management system is fully operational by the end of 2010. Information will be made publicly available, as much as possible, to encourage transparency and trust.

The Ministry will develop a comprehensive set of management objectives to guide fisheries management decisions and the services that the Ministry and others provide. These management objectives will be incorporated into the National Fisheries Plans, which will be publicly available.

As a result of decisions arising from the Organisational Design Review, the Ministry will undertake more effective engagement with stakeholders by focused consultation on specific issues, using ongoing advisory groups, workshops and forums.

The Ministry plays a strong international role in regional forums and the development of international agreements that affect the fisheries sector. This involvement enhances and maintains New Zealand’s reputation as a responsible fishing nation.

The Ministry interacts with many agencies and is looking to further increase the consistency of its work with that of other public service agencies. The Ministry will participate in the work of the Natural Resources Sector Network, focusing on forming a common understanding of strategic issues and goals and delivery of those shared goals. This will include participation in the development of a joint discussion paper on marine issues by November 2010.

The Ministry will act to educate stakeholders of their rights and responsibilities. The continued implementation of the “informed and assisted” delivery model seeks to increase the understanding of New Zealanders of their rights and responsibilities before resorting to enforcement actions. Improvements in frontline compliance capacity through an increase in the number of Honorary Fisheries Officers and Field Operations staff will help to deliver improved voluntary compliance with the fisheries management framework. By 30 June 2011, there will be 225 Honorary Fishery Officers and 160 Fishery Officers in place to enable more coastline to be patrolled and increase visibility in the community.