Ministry Statements & Speeches:
Thank you Chair, and congratulations on your appointment again this year.
New Zealand is a strong supporter of the UN Fish Stocks Agreement and sees it as a fundamental tool in the conservation and management of fish stocks. We cannot over emphasise the importance of fisheries not only to the New Zealand economy, but also further afield, to the livelihoods of the Pacific Island countries.
New Zealand places great importance on using scientific research to inform the development of policy, and ensuring confidence in the fisheries management measures developed. We therefore welcome consideration of this year’s topic on ‘Science-policy interface’. Scientific research ensures that conservation and management measures are designed for the long-term conservation and sustainable use of fishery resources, and to safeguard the marine ecosystem in which these resources occur.
Our commitment to sustainable fisheries is demonstrated by our active participation in relevant regional fisheries management organisations. It was indeed concern about a lack of regulation in the southern Pacific region that led New Zealand, Australia and Chile to co-sponsor the establishment of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO). It is therefore pleasing to report that there are now 16 Members of the Commission and four Cooperating non-Contracting Parties. The sixth Commission meeting was held earlier this year in Peru, and a number of core management measures are now in force.
In SPRFMO, New Zealand has invested heavily in scientific research in order to develop a robust and comprehensive bottom measure fishing measure, which will be presented at the next Commission meeting. We have also funded over $6 million in the past eight years to support the SPRFMO science process, including funding of stock assessments, scientific advice and peer review identification and mapping of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems.
New Zealand also collaborates with Pacific Island countries to assist in enabling their effective participation in the management and development of their fisheries. Amongst other things, this collaboration involves activities that seek to improve integration between science, policy and management, including by improving the quality of data collection and analysis. For example, we provide funding to the Pacific Community (SPC) to evaluate harvest strategy scenarios against the targets and limits that fisheries decision makers have set.
New Zealand recognises that regional fisheries management organisations are at different stages of development and face challenges that are particular to the individual organisation. Nonetheless, the fundamental challenges inherent in conservation and management of fish stocks globally remain the same, and require cooperation and participation not just at the regional level but also at the global level.
In this regard we are pleased to announce that we are in the process of making a financial contribution to the Part VII Trust fund to assist the participation of developing countries, particularly Small Island Developing States (SIDS), at the next Informal Consultations of States Parties meeting.
Thank you.