Fisheries Research Services

Background

Effective management of New Zealand’s fisheries is underpinned by the purchasing of research that produces the high quality information required to ensure the sustainable utilisation of these resources. The management of fisheries to achieve these goals is based upon the scientific evaluation of: 

• sustainable yield from fisheries resources; 
• the effects of fishing on the aquatic environment, including on the viability of associated or dependent species and on biological diversity; 
• alternative strategies for achieving the desired level of yield while avoiding, remedying, or mitigating adverse effects of fishing on the aquatic environment; 
• analysis of relevant cultural, economic, and social factors that may need to be included in the management decision process; and 
• specific measures needed to implement the preferred strategy.

Fisheries research falls into six key areas each of which has its own specific goal. These research areas and associated goals are:

• Fisheries Resources - to provide the information on sustainable yields and stock status required for the sustainable utilisation of New Zealand’s fisheries resources; 
• Harvest Levels - to determine the nature and extent of commercial and recreational catch, Maori customary take, illegal catch, and fishery induced mortality; 
• Aquaculture and Enhancement Research - to provide information to ensure that aquaculture and enhancement activities are sustainable and to determine the effects on wild fisheries and the aquatic environment; 
• Cultural, Economic, and Social Research - to provide information on cultural, economic, and social factors that may need to be considered in the management decision making process to enable people to provide for their social, economic and cultural well-being; and 
• Traditional and Customary Research - to provide information on the traditional and customary factors that may need to be considered in the management decision making process to enable the Minister to discharge his/her obligations to tangata whenua under the Deed of Settlement and the Treaty of Waitangi (Fisheries Claims) Settlement Act to enable Maori to provide for their traditional and customary well-being.

 

To provide the information on sustainable yields and stock status required for the sustainable utilisation of New Zealand’s fisheries resources:

• Harvest Levels - to determine the nature and extent of commercial and recreational catch, Maori customary take, illegal catch, and fishery induced mortality; 
• Aquaculture and Enhancement Research - to provide information to ensure that aquaculture and enhancement activities are sustainable and to determine the effects on wild fisheries and the aquatic environment; 
• Cultural, Economic, and Social Research - to provide information on cultural, economic, and social factors that may need to be considered in the management decision making process to enable people to provide for their social, economic and cultural well-being; and 
• Traditional and Customary Research - to provide information on the traditional and customary factors that may need to be considered in the management decision making process to enable the Minister to discharge his/her obligations to tangata whenua under the Deed of Settlement and the Treaty of Waitangi (Fisheries Claims) Settlement Act to enable Maori to provide for their traditional and customary well-being.

To determine the nature and extent of commercial and recreational catch, Maori customary take, illegal catch, and fishery induced mortality: 

• Aquaculture and Enhancement Research - to provide information to ensure that aquaculture and enhancement activities are sustainable and to determine the effects on wild fisheries and the aquatic environment; 
• Cultural, Economic, and Social Research - to provide information on cultural, economic, and social factors that may need to be considered in the management decision making process to enable people to provide for their social, economic and cultural well-being; and 
• Traditional and Customary Research - to provide information on the traditional and customary factors that may need to be considered in the management decision making process to enable the Minister to discharge his/her obligations to tangata whenua under the Deed of Settlement and the Treaty of Waitangi (Fisheries Claims) Settlement Act to enable Maori to provide for their traditional and customary well-being.

To provide information to ensure that aquaculture and enhancement activities are sustainable and to determine the effects on wild fisheries and the aquatic environment: 

• Cultural, Economic, and Social Research - to provide information on cultural, economic, and social factors that may need to be considered in the management decision making process to enable people to provide for their social, economic and cultural well-being; and 
• Traditional and Customary Research - to provide information on the traditional and customary factors that may need to be considered in the management decision making process to enable the Minister to discharge his/her obligations to tangata whenua under the Deed of Settlement and the Treaty of Waitangi (Fisheries Claims) Settlement Act to enable Maori to provide for their traditional and customary well-being.

Fisheries research focuses mainly on assessment of fishstocks, and investigations into the impacts of fishing on the aquatic environment.

The research work will generally be in the following areas: 

• Deepwater Fisheries 
• Hoki and Middle Depth Fisheries 
• Inshore Finfish Fisheries 
• Pelagic Fisheries 
• Aquatic Environment 
• Freshwater Eels Fisheries 
• Stock Assessment Processes 
• Scientific Support for International Fishing Agreements 
• Shellfish Fisheries 
• Stock Assessment Methods 
• Aquaculture and Enhancement 
• Cultural, Economic, and Social Research 
• Customary Research 
• Technical Input into Policy Advice

Contestability

Most fisheries research contracted by the Ministry of Fisheries is fully contestable. Contracts are awarded following the competitive tendering of projects. Fisheries projects are usually tendered in one of four predetermined tender rounds.

The evaluation process commences after each tender round closes. Evaluations and negotiations occur after a tender round closes and may overlap with the periods in which tenders are invited. The Ministry’s cost recovery obligations mean that consultation with commercial stakeholders will be required on projects if:

• Objectives are added to or deleted from a project; 
• Projects are significantly delayed; or 
• Costs are significantly different to estimates. 

Any projects proposed to be withdrawn will be consulted with all stakeholders.

Projects will be awarded when consultation and negotiations are complete.

Contracts will be awarded to the tenderer who, in the opinion of the Ministry, is best able to provide the required service. Submission Information & Instructions provides details of the tender evaluation process and the evaluation criteria.

Research Planning

The Ministry has a planning process in place to establish future directions and priorities for fisheries research. This planning process involves consultation, planning and project development. The Research Co-ordinating Committee meets annually with fisheries stakeholders to discuss, evaluate, and make recommendations on the direction of research. The recommendations come from Research Planning Groups who contribute to the process in regards to specific research areas (eg. Shellfish fisheries).