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Marine biodiversity

The Ministry contributes to the following marine policy issues:

We are also working with other agencies to improve information and planning processes for managing marine biodiversity.

The framework for managing fisheries

New Zealand’s Fisheries Act 1996 requires that fish stocks are utilised in a sustainable manner. This means sustaining target fish stocks while also sustaining marine ecosystems and non-target species. Most target stocks are harvested at rates that aim to maintain them at or near the level that produces the maximum sustainable yield. Catch limits are the main method of stock management.

The status of more than half the commercially exploited fish stocks is unknown but, of the stocks whose status is known, about 10 percent are considered to be below the level of maximum sustainable yield and measures have been set to rebuild these stocks.

Pressures on marine life from fishing include direct harvesting pressure as well as indirect pressures from trawling and dumping of offal on nursery ecosystems, and bycatch of non-target species, including marine mammals and seabirds.

The Ministry of Fisheries is responsible for ensuring that New Zealand's fisheries are sustainably used. More information about the management of fisheries can be found on the Ministry of Fisheries website.

The Ministry for the Environment and the Ministry of Fisheries have released a discussion paper to review the legal framework for managing aquaculture. We are also working with the Department of Conservation, the Ministry of Fisheries and Te Puni Kokiri on aquaculture reform.

Managing impacts on marine biodiversity at a regional level

This programme is intended to provide advice and information to support regional co-ordination in the management of marine biodiversity, and policy development at both a national and regional level.

It aims to:

  • develop spatially-referenced ecological models to facilitate better marine biodiversity management
  • identify things that prevent or encourage the achievement of biodiversity goals at a regional level
  • provide advice and information to regional and national policy-makers on how constraints may be overcome, and opportunities fostered.

The Ministry for the Environment is currently carrying out three case studies investigating ways to achieve these aims.

Hauraki Gulf

The focus of this case study is the development of a regional-scale Marine Environmental Classification of physical variables in the marine environment, based on the assumption that ecological processes are largely driven by physical factors. The case study will involve testing a draft classification against a management scenario (identifying candidate sites for marine protection), by the end of June 2003. The classification will be ground-truthed against empirical data in the 2003 financial year.

Wellington Harbour/Cook Strait

This study is being carried out in collaboration with the Wellington Regional Council. It focuses on coordination between agencies, information management and community participation. Planned and current actions include:

  • the formation of a community-based advisory group
  • development of a greater Cook Strait marine environmental classification
  • a series of lectures on community interactions with the biodiversity of Wellington Harbour and Cook Strait
  • an investigation of legislative and policy “theory and practice” that impacts on biodiversity in the harbour and strait
  • development of a regional metadata database, to make readily available scientific, community-based and traditional knowledge and information about the biodiversity of the region.

Fiordland

This study focuses on the activities and fortunes of the Guardians of Fiordland’s Fisheries and Marine Environment. The Guardians are a group of marine stakeholders who received support from the Sustainable Management Fund to develop an Integrated Management Strategy for the Fiordland area.

A draft strategy was released in October 2002. The strategy promotes the use of a range of existing tools and processes (for example, taiapure, marine reserves) to promote sustainable use and protection of marine biodiversity. The strategy will be supported by a Marine Geographical Information System, currently under development by the University of Otago’s Marine Sciences Department, funded under the Biodiversity Strategy Funding Package.

Waitaki

The Ministry of Fisheries is currently negotiating a contract with Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu to implement a case study plan based in the Waitaki catchment, with customary resource use as its primary focus.

Last updated: 17 September 2007