The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) has welcomed the news that New Zealand was acknowledged as the leading country among 41 surveyed recently for the quality of its fisheries monitoring control and surveillance (MCS) work.
MAF Director-General Wayne McNee says it is reassuring to learn we are right up there when it comes to this very important component of fisheries management.
“We’ve already been recognized as having one of the world’s best fisheries management systems, and it is great to now receive this accolade for our crucial compliance work,†he says. “It’s a tribute to everyone who puts such enormous effort, skill and expertise into our field operations activities.â€
The Fisheries Centre at the University of Columbia, Canada, recently published a comprehensive 222-page compliance evaluation report on 41 fishing nations, from Angola to Viet Nam. New Zealand topped the poll overall on 11 measures, covering infrastructure and vessel inspection.
New Zealand scored maximum points on one measure: “Does the country have adequate surveillance infrastructure (patrol aircraft, sea-based patrol vessels and coastal patrols) to effectively patrol fisheries resources within its EEZ?†and came very close on a number of others. Mr. McNee says the collaborative work MAF does with the NZ Defense Force and other agencies contributed greatly to the result.
Primary Industries Minister David Carter extended his congratulations to MAF for the international acknowledgement of its compliance work. “Having recently taken up this portfolio, it is important to learn that our MCS work – and our fisheries management in general – stands alongside some of the best in the world,†Mr. Carter says.
New Zealand’s Quota Management System is recognized as one of the world’s best fisheries management systems. The World Bank has praised the QMS and a major study published in the prestigious journal Science rated New Zealand’s fisheries management as first equal out of all regions around the world. A report published in the Marine Policy journal ranked New Zealand’s fisheries management as the best of the world’s 53 major fishing nations.
