2. Nature and scope of functions

2.4 Limits or constraints

In performing our functions, the Ministry faces a number of significant limits or constraints. These are outlined below:

• Information limits - management decisions may need to be taken without full information on the state of fisheries or the consequences of management actions, due to inherent difficulties and costs of research.
   
  
• Deficiencies in the legal framework - including poor integration with other aquatic resource legislation, barriers to precautionary decision-making and managing for best value, and inadequate incentives for stakeholders to invest in cooperative approaches to manage fisheries.
   
  
• Need for improved stakeholder engagement - stakeholder involvement is critical to:
   
  
  • promote voluntary compliance by securing support for, or understanding of, management measures
     
    
  • reveal value-adding initiatives or opportunities.
     
    
  
  
• Need for long-term focus - successful management requires long-term investment to:
   
  
  • restore depleted fisheries or damaged habitats
     
    
  • collect relevant time series data
     
    
  • build confidence with stakeholders and between stakeholder groups
     
    
  • build capacity within sector groups for effective engagement. 
     
     
    
• Need to build constructive stakeholder relationships and improve Ministry and stakeholder capacity.
   
  

In addition the Ministry must work within the limits of its fiscal constraints. The Fisheries Act 1996 and the Fisheries (Cost Recovery) Rules 2001 provide for the costs of certain services to be recovered from the commercial fishing sector. The amounts recovered are between $30 million and $35 million each year. Principal services that are subject to cost recovery are fisheries research, observers, commercial fisheries compliance, registry services, and permit approvals.