what we do

The Ministry of Fisheries:

• advises Government on the development of fisheries policies
• develops laws to manage fisheries
• administers the Quota Management System that regulates New Zealand   commercial fishing activity
• promotes fishers acting within fisheries laws; and
• gives effect to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi as they relate to fisheries.

Achieving the Government’s goals

The Government’s goals for New Zealand’s fisheries are realised through a series of contributing outcomes:

• Health of aquatic environment protected
• Best value able to be realised
• Obligations to Maori delivered
• Credible fisheries management
• These in turn are implemented through specific outputs:

MFish outputs

Fisheries Policy

Development and review of policy and legal frameworks required for the sustainable and efficient utilisation of fisheries includes:

• providing advice on fisheries outcomes and standards
• monitoring international fisheries issues
• participation in wider marine management initiatives such as the development of an Oceans Policy
• advising on the impact and implementation of Treaty of Waitangi settlements.

Fisheries Information

Information about New Zealand’s fisheries and marine biodiversity supports:

• scientific evaluation of fisheries resources 
• understanding of the effects of fishing on the aquatic environment
• development of alternatives to effect the desired management strategy
• analysis of cultural, social and economic factors relevant to management decisions.

Fisheries Operations

Our baseline fisheries management services include:

• developing fisheries plans
• advice on sustainability and utilisation decisions
• assessing marine farming applications to determine any undue adverse effects on fishing
• advice on marine reserves
• processing and advice on applications for customary fishing permits
• managing and disseminating fisheries management information
• creating, maintaining, and reviewing service delivery standards.

Fisheries Compliance

The aim is to maximise voluntary compliance with fisheries rules and create effective deterrence. This includes:

• educating fishers
• collecting compliance information
• monitoring, detecting and prosecuting fisheries offences.

Aquaculture Settlement

This output covers activities required to meet the Crown’s obligations under the Maori Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act 2004. These include:

• determining how much existing and new marine farming space in each region is to be transferred to the trustee
• establishing and maintaining an aquaculture settlement register
• monitoring the funding and delivery of outputs by Te Ohu Kai Moana Trustee Limited (TOKMTL) for its role as trustee in relation to settlement assets.

These outputs are delivered through our six business groups.