Strategic direction

Contribution to Government priorities

Government’s priority is to “grow the New Zealand economy in order to deliver greater prosperity, security and opportunities for all New Zealanders”. The fisheries and aquaculture sector offers significant economic growth opportunities that will directly contribute to this priority. Aquaculture is New Zealand’s fastest growing seafood sector, with significant potential to help boost New Zealand’s economic growth. Government is committed to enabling that growth. Government’s focus for fisheries management is on:

• reform to support improved performance of aquaculture and commercial fisheries
• front-line compliance, including increasing the number of fishery officers
• research into fish stock status
• implementation of the Deed of Settlement
• addressing information shortcomings, including those necessary to better recognise the interests of amateur fishers.

Government has also called for a focus on efficiency gains and a removal of unnecessary barriers and costs of doing business.

To support economic growth, we will manage New Zealand fisheries and aquaculture to support a globally-competitive, sustainable seafood sector. To deliver this we will:

• implement an improved organisation design structure, including processes and services to ensure the Ministry is well positioned to deliver on the strategic intent in a way that supports more effective operation and delivers value for money. Particular services we will focus on are compliance, research and observers, and the way fisheries are managed
• obtain agreement to Fisheries 2030, a long-term strategy and action plan to unlock the potential of the New Zealand fisheries sector and begin implementation of priority actions
• ensure accountability and value for money by continuing to develop standards and monitoring performance to support objectives-based fisheries management
• lead, with the Ministry for the Environment, the reform of the aquaculture regulatory regime to enable the aquaculture industry to achieve its economic potential
• review and enhance delivery of the Crown’s fisheries and aquaculture obligations to Mäori
• improve our understanding of and recognise the full range of benefits of fisheries, including a particular focus on the amateur sector
• seek improved international market access for New Zealand seafood through reduction of trade barriers and encouraging certification of products from sustainable fisheries and aquaculture
• monitor and seek to maintain or improve environmental quality and fish stock abundance.