THE OUTPUT PLAN - FISHERIES SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED IN 2004/05

One of the key organisational aims for the Ministry over the next few years is to shift the focus from consideration of inputs towards outcomes. This means the fishery outcome, the two Ministry contributing outcomes and the outputs being provided.

The Fishery Outcome

"The value New Zealanders obtain through the sustainable use of fisheries resources and protection of the aquatic environment is maximised."

The Ministry's Contributing Outcomes

• Maintain the integrity of existing fisheries management and marine biosecurity frameworks.

• Develop new fisheries management and marine biosecurity frameworks.

Each of the outputs in the next section is linked to one or both of the Ministry's contributing outcomes and, through those, to the fishery outcome.

Outputs and measures are the primary means for the Ministry to demonstrate performance towards the contributing outcomes. Each output must have performance indicators to monitor achievements.

Each must also be capable of measurement.

For instance, output 51 - Commercial fishing rules enforced - directly relates to "the integrity of the existing framework is maintained" contributing outcome. So, because stakeholders have incentives not to comply, the aim is to create a deterrent effect through:

• increasing the probabilities of detection

• penalties which outweigh the value of the proceeds from the crime.

This creates confidence in the framework and is a move toward an optimal level of compliance. It will also provide stakeholders with the confidence that the Ministry is running quality processes.

Delivering Outputs

The Ministry recognises that movement toward a more outcome-focused organisation will require an ongoing refinement of outputs and measures.

As noted in the 2003/08 Statement of Intent, the first steps were taken toward this with the rationalisation of outputs and measures in the 2002/03 Departmental Forecast Report. Minor amendments were made for the 2003/08 Statement of Intent, and it was intended to undertake a more comprehensive review of the outputs and output classes in 2003/04 for the 2004/05 year and beyond. In the event, resources had to be diverted to other higher priority issues, and this major review will now take place in 2004/05.

Consultation on the provision of fisheries services

The Ministry of Fisheries undertakes several annual consultation processes with iwi and hapu- , and other stakeholders on a variety of fisheries matters such as sustainability and management controls, stock assessment and the Statement of Intent.

The process of consultation is to seek the views of iwi and hapu- and other stakeholders on fisheries management issues, and to incorporate those views into the subsequent advice given to Ministers.

Consultation is not to be equated with either 'negotiation' or 'agreement'.

Criteria for assessing the quality of policy and reports

Assessing the quality of policy and reports developed by the Ministry is a subjective evaluation of the standard against predetermined quality criteria. The following criteria form the basis for gauging whether a policy or report meets the quality characteristics set by the Ministry, and are to be used when measuring output delivery related to policy.

Statement of objectives specifying the performance planned for each class of outputs for the year ending 30 June 2005

The output classes for the 2004/05 financial year are unchanged from those used for the 2003/04 year. Outputs may be grouped under different classes in future years.

The output class and output structure to be adopted for 2004/05, along with the indicative costs for each output, is shown in the table overleaf. The indicative cost for each output includes the increased funding provided to the Ministry through the 2004 Budget.

There is one specific change at output level:

• a new output 26 - Observer services provided - has been created from the amalgamation of the two previous observer outputs - Observer services provided in response to requests by the Ministry (output 24) and Observer services provided in response to requests from the industry (output 25).

Conventions

The following conventions have been used in the preparation of the figures contained in the financial tables in this section.

Unless otherwise stated:

• all financial information is expressed in $000s

• all financial information is on a GST exclusive basis

• a variance calculation shown in brackets ( ) signifies an increase in expenditure or a decrease in revenue.

Explanation of year-on-year changes Changes have occurred in most outputs between the Statement of Intent for 2003/04 and that for 2004/05. These changes are due to:

• increases/decreases in the number of hours of effort being applied to the output

• the effects of the new initiatives approved in the 2003 and 2004 Budgets

• consequential amendments to reflect cost reductions (in output 42).

Where the effect of these changes on an output is greater than 10% (plus or minus), an explanation of the change is provided as part of the information for that output.

Changes of less than 10% are not commented on.

2004/05 Output Class and Output Structure