Our relationships
Many organisations and individuals have a stake in the health and sustainability of our marine environment and fisheries. MFish is the lead government agency in this area and we work with Maori, other government agencies, commercial interests, recreational fishers, environmental organisations and service providers.
Treaty partner – tangata whenua
Maori are now the biggest players in New Zealand’s commercial fishing industry. Maori manage their non-commercial fishing activity through customary fishing regulations and are also keen recreational fishers.
MFish works with tangata whenua on many levels in a partnership that is based on the Treaty of Waitangi and is recognised in the Fisheries Act 1996.
In the commercial sphere, we work with Te Ohu Kai Moana Trustee Limited, which allocates Treaty settlement assets in accordance with the Maori Fisheries Act 2004. Our relationship with iwi will strengthen further as these assets are allocated.
We consult extensively with Maori at iwi and hapu level on decisions affecting non-commercial fisheries matters (e.g. establishment of taiapure, mätaitai reserves, and marine reserves).
Government agencies
Other key government agencies in fisheries and marine environmental matters are:
Agency |
Role and interests in fisheries and marine environment |
Department of Conservation |
Marine reserves, protection of marine mammals and seabirds |
Ministry for the Environment |
Policy issues, Resource Management Act, biodiversity |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade |
International fisheries issues |
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry |
Biosecurity, international forums, safety of seafood |
Ministry of Research, Science and Technology and Foundation for Research, Science and Technology |
Research and funding priorities |
New Zealand Police |
Enforcement |
New Zealand Defence Force |
Surveillance |
Service providers
The Fisheries Act was amended in 1999 to allow more flexibility in who could provide fisheries management services. Key service providers include:
Provider |
Services |
FishServe |
Registry services and statutory functions |
Cawthron Institute |
Specialist marine science research |
National Institute for Water and Atmospheric Research |
Fisheries stock research, maintenance of research database. |
Commercial fishing and aquaculture
We work with organisations that represent the commercial sector, some with broad representation and some representing the interests of a particular fishery. They include:
- New Zealand Federation of Commercial Fishermen
- New Zealand Seafood Industry Council
- New Zealand Fishing Industry Guild
- Commercial fishing stakeholder companies and associations (various)
- New Zealand Aquaculture Council Inc
- Marine farming stakeholder companies and associations (various).
Environmental interest groups
We work with groups that have a strong interest in the sustainability of fisheries and the environmental impacts of fishing. They include:
- World Wide Fund for Nature
- Ecologic Foundation
- Environmental and Conservation Organisations of New Zealand (ECO)
- Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society
- Greenpeace
Recreational fishers
There are many recreational fishers in New Zealand and, as an important part of our fisheries, are consulted on fisheries management and marine protection. This is done mainly through the Recreational Fishing Council Inc (an umbrella organisation representing national, regional and local recreational fishing interests) and Option 4 (an internet-based interest group).