Geelong Revisited: From ESD to EBFM – Future Directions for Fisheries Management: The New Zealand Experience

1. Geelong Revisited: From ESD to EBFM – Future Directions for Fisheries Management:The New Zealand Experience Melbourne, 21& 22 May, 2008 Jonathan Peacey New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries

2. ESD but not by that name! • No explicit focus on ESD; but legislation and policies deliver key elements of ESD • Moving to Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries • Environmental standards and objectives-based fisheries plans • Ongoing management of specific environmental impacts • Increasing environmental research • Societal views changing rapidly

3. Legislation • Fisheries Act 1996 • Purpose: Provide for utilisation while ensuring sustainability • Environmental principles: • Associated & Dependent Species • Maintain Biological diversity • Habitat of importance • Information principles (precautionary approach – but not quite!) • Requirement to manage most fish stocks at or above BMSY • Marine Reserves Act 1971 • Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978 • Wildlife Act 1953

4. Policies • MFish Statement of Intent • Overall Outcome: Maximise the value New Zealanders obtain from the sustainable utilisation of fisheries resources and protection of the aquatic environment • Contributing Outcomes: • Aquatic environment protected • Best value able to be realised • Credible fisheries management • Biodiversity Strategy 2000 • Marine Protected Area Strategy • Fisheries Environmental Strategy • Comprehensive Oceans Policy attempted; deferred

5. Environmental Strategy - 2005 • Assess all environmental effects of fishing; don’t just respond • Environmental standards define acceptable limits of fishing effects • Social values to be incorporated in standard setting • Flexibility in how standards are achieved • Fishery managers to demonstrate fishery meets relevant standards

6. Standards and Operational Guidelines • Approved: • Deemed values • Management of Non-QMS species • Consultation • Sealions • To be released later: • Environmental Impact Assessment • Other marine mammals • Reporting • Allocation • Risk analysis • Input and participation of tangata whenua • Governance and representation • Purchase • Service Delivery • Consultation Completed: • Harvest Strategy (TAC-setting) • Seabirds • Hectors/Maui Dolphins • To be released soon: • Benthic Impacts Until the Fisheries Act is amended, standards are only policies that guide advice to the decision-maker (Minister or Chief Executive)

7. Objectives-Based Management Overall Outcome: Maximise the value New Zealanders obtain from the sustainable use of fisheries resources and protection of the aquatic environment • Legislation • Policy • International obligations Fisheries Plans Contributing outcomes Stakeholder Goals Objectives Standards Management measures Services

8. Fisheries Plans • Deepwater fisheries • Inshore finfish (7 plans) • Shellfish/Seaweed (11 plans) • Freshwater eels (2 plans) • Other freshwater fisheries • National Plans: • Seabird NPOA • Shark NPOA • Benthic habitat

9. Ongoing Environmental Initiatives • Codes of Practice & Regulations covering trawl & longline vessels & marine mammals & seabirds • Benthic Protection: • 31 Marine Reserves (7.6% TS) • Benthic Protection Areas (32% of EEZ; 52% seamounts; 88% hydrothermal vents) • Fisheries Act closures; Cable zones • Certification: • Hoki fishery MSC certified since 2001 • 3 other fisheries under assessment • Environmental certification fund 2008

10. Research • Total fisheries research: $40 M • MFish research: $ 20 M • DoC: impacts of fishing: $1.8 M • FRST aquatic env research: $15 M • Industry research: $1.5 M • Some research cost recovered