New Zealand Fisheries Results Through Collaboration Shaun Driscoll National Manager Investigation Services
New Zealand s Location Position perspective West Island Isolation perspective (water,water everywhere)
Scope Context in which MFish Operates Characteristics of the New Zealand Fishing Sector A sample of the IUU challenges faced by MFish Compliance Enforcement Strategies Adopted in Conjunction with Partner Agencies Examples of recent successes
Context The NZ Fishing Sector Underpinned by customary and recreational access rights Commercial fisheries managed under a quota management system (QMS) The 96 QMS species are divided into 618 fish-stocks or geographic Quota Management Areas (QMAs). International fisheries managed under a robust legal framework designed to ensure that NZ meets its international obligations New Zealand s and Iceland s fisheries management considered world best practice. UK Cabinet Office Report, 2004
Characteristics New Zealand s EEZ New Zealand EEZ 4,363,000 sq km (5 th biggest in world) 15 times the size of the NZ landmass 15,000km of coastline Over 8,000 diverse species of which 130 are fished commercially (96 in the QMS) Diverse depth, topography and latitude range
Characteristics NZ s International Obligations Committed to the principles and practices of sound fisheries management Sustainable utilisation Principled approach to international framework development Control of nationals Robust port state measures Committed to the development of robust fisheries management frameworks across our regional arrangements Robust strategy and clear objectives Clear information management policies, procedures and standards as a cornerstone of any info sharing initiatives
IUU Challenges Domestic Enforcement Challenges Area misreporting Reporting fish caught in one area as having been caught in another The incentive is usually the cost or availability of quota in one area as opposed to the other Dumping Illegal discarding of catch without recording it as landed The incentive is often to meet a particular product specification but it can also occur through poor catch management (too many fish caught) or because particular bycatch species are not wanted
Enforcement Strategies MFish Business Unit Structure Chief Executive Corporate Services Operations International Compliance Science Policy National Manager Surveillance Investigations Prosecutions Business Support Information Services
Enforcement Strategies Whole of Government Operating Framework Fisheries Compliance NMCC RNZAF NIWA Otago University Forensic Services Covert Operations RNZN Foreign Affairs NZ Police OFCANZ NZ Customs Dept of Conservation Immigration NZ Special Audit NZSIS CLAG Agencies
Forensic Science Partnerships Investigations Group Specialist Capability 2 x Forensic Science Investigators 2 x Forensic Accountants 1 x Computer Forensic Investigator Key Partner Agencies: NIWA (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research) Otago University
Enforcement Strategies Whole of Government Operating Framework Fisheries Compliance NMCC RNZAF NIWA Otago University Forensic Accounting Covert Operations RNZN Foreign Affairs NZ Police OFCANZ NZ Customs Dept of Conservation Immigration NZ Covert Surveillance NZSIS CLAG Agencies
NMCC Enforcement Strategies The NMCC coordinates civilian use of maritime patrol and surveillance assets, including information. The NMCC has three key purposes: To contribute to maritime domain awareness (MDA) in relation to risks in the marine environment that could impact on the sovereignty, security, safety, economy, environment or foreign policy interests of New Zealand. To support the effective and efficient use of New Zealand's maritime patrol and surveillance assets. To support and facilitate the effective use and accessibility of maritime-related information from multiple sources that supports the core business of government agencies.
Enforcement Strategies Whole of Government Operating Framework Fisheries Compliance NMCC RNZAF NIWA Otago University Forensic Accounting Covert Operations RNZN Foreign Affairs NZ Police OFCANZ NZ Customs Dept of Conservation Immigration NZ Covert Surveillance NZSIS CLAG Agencies
CLAG Enforcement Strategies CLAG stands for Combined Law Agency Group The key purpose of the CLAG is: To support the government s policy of an effective and unified public sector by: Encouraging the effective sharing of relevant information between partner agencies and facilitating joint operations when appropriate.
Enforcement Strategies Partner Agency - RNZAF RNZAF provide long range patrol and reconnaissance aircraft Pacific patrols in support of our Pacific Island neighbours Targeted surveillance patrols within NZ EEZ in support of fisheries investigations Routine EEZ patrols
Enforcement Strategies Partner Agency - RNZAF RNZAF provide long range patrol and reconnaissance aircraft Pacific patrols in support of our Pacific Island neighbours Targeted surveillance patrols within NZ EEZ in support of fisheries investigations Routine EEZ patrols Antarctic patrols in support of NZ CCAMLR obligations Covert surveillance insertions
Enforcement Strategies Partner Agency - RNZN RNZN provide EEZ patrol vessels in two classes: Facilitate comprehensive fisheries inspection programme EEZ and wider Pacific (offshore) patrols Inshore patrols across all fishing sectors Offshore Patrol Vessel HMNZS Wellington 85m Inshore Patrol Vessel HMNZS Rotoiti 55m
Collaboration Successes Operation Carmen Area Misreporting of over 1,000 tonnes of Ling, south of NZ Significant investigation effort by MFish Investigators, supported by: RNZAF (Ariel surveillance) NIWA (Ling samples from areas of interest) Otago University (Forensic analysis)
Collaboration Successes Operation Carmen Area Misreporting Ling (Genypterus blacodes) Objective: To prove that ling reported as caught in area 603 was actually taken in area 030 a distinctly different fish stock Area 030 Area 603
Collaboration Successes Operation Carmen Long-range confirmation of catch quantity Footage shows 8-9 beckets on deck
Collaboration Successes Op Carmen Forensic Science in Action Analysis of Mercury content in Ling samples by Otago University Mercury accumulation rates different for each area Sub-Antarctic fish (603) accumulating mercury twice as fast as Puysegur (030) fish. Preliminary results suggest we might be able to differentiate between large ling from Puysegur (030) and area 603 on the basis of mercury content alone Should also see a difference in the nitrogen isotope ratio
Collaboration Successes Op Pacman & Paid Both operations involved the longterm deployment of under-cover agents to infiltrate organised crime syndicates involved in poaching and the black-market trading of high-value fish product. 89 (Pacman) and 73 (Paid) offenders apprehended and charged with indictable offences; Significant Police and RNZAF assistance in the termination of both operations; Follow-up cooperation with other Govt. Agencies such as IRD, Immigration, and the Labour Department.
Results Through Collaboration