Assessing the financial implications of upcoming legislation and latest industry developments

The NZ seafood industry is one of the country’s recent success stories and is poised for further growth.

In just 20 years New Zealand’s seafood industry has tripled annual exports from about $500 million to $1.4 billion. It has tapped into a natural resource developing inshore, mid and deep-water fisheries and is pioneering a $200 million a year aquaculture sector. By enhancing the value of products and expanding the aquaculture sector, the industry forecasts it can reach $2 billion in annual exports by 2010.

NZ is recognised as a world leader in fisheries management with an industry based on sustainable harvest, achieved by the property-rights based Quota Management System and sound environmental principles. Consistent quality and supply coupled with innovation and niche marketing increasingly enable the NZ industry to win business in high value, premium markets.

Programme content and key learning objectives

• Assess the latest development in the Aquaculture Reform Bill - what to expect and implications for the industry

• Examine government policy and new developments in the QMS

• Assess the economic relevance of the Treaty in fisheries

• Be updated on the progress of the Fisheries Act Amendment Bill and its financial implications

• Examine the Oceans Policy proposal and its impact on the fishing industry

• Keep up to date on latest developments in export and trade for the fisheries industry

Who should attend?

Even if you don’t have specific experience in the fisheries industry, this training seminar will bring you up to speed. This seminar is relevant for:

• Those involved in finance for the fisheries industry

• Fisheries Managers

• Seafood Industry Managers

• Commercial Fishers

• Aquaculturalists

• Quota Brokers

• Fisheries Consultants

• Exporters

• Environmental Managers

• Policy Analysts

Day One

8.30 Registration & Coffee

Aquaculture Reform Bill - what to expect and implications for the industry

Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing areas of the NZ seafood industry, making up around 20% of the total fisheries value. It is predicted that in the next 20 years, up to 50% of seafood production worldwide will be in aquaculture.

• A review of the November 2001 moratorium on the issuing of new consents for marine farms

• What are the economic implications of the new farming reforms?

• Analysis of the new framework developed for local councils to manage aquaculture and the growing number of coastal permit applications for new marine farms

• Addressing Maori interests in marine farming

• Integrating the Resource Management Act 1991 considerations and fisheries related decision making into the coastal planning process

Examining the new developments in the QMS

• Which species are likely to be introduced into the QMS in the future?

• Analysis of the controversial introduction of scampi into the QMS

• Update on the annual Total Allowable Catch (TACC)

• Latest developments with Individual Transferable Quotas (ITQs) and Annual Catch Entitlement (ACE)

• Assessing the government policy to transfer more responsibility to stakeholders

• How has the QMS resulted in improved economic returns for the industry?

• Improving economic efficiency from a more efficient fit between fishing capacity and available fish stocks

The economic relevance of the Treaty in fisheries: Examining the development of a Treaty Strategy

• Integrating Maori interest across both commercial and customary fishing

• Building mechanisms that assist integration and cooperation between aquaculture and wild fisheries

• Examining the Maori Fisheries Bill 2003 and the 1992 Fisheries Settlement

• The role of the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission

• Analysing the proposed allocation model

• Following on from the 1992 Deed of Settlement

Fisheries Act Amendment Bill (No 3) 2004 - implications

The Minister of Fisheries introduced the Fisheries Act Amendment Bill into Parliament in March 2004. The bill provides for changes to the 1983 and 1996 Fisheries Acts. This session will examine in detail the implications of the bill’s five central issues. – from

www.fish.govt.nz

• Issue 1: Improving the process for identifying and introducing stocks into QMS and revising the commercial fishing permit regime

• Issue 2: Management of highly migratory species

• Issue 3: Technical amendments

• Issue 4: Changes to spat catching permits

• Issue 5: Introduction of scampi into the QMS on 1 October 2004

Day Two

Examining the principles and progress of the government’s ‘Ocean Policy’

Cabinet has agreed to the development of an Oceans Policy for NZ. The policy is to be designed to ensure integrated and consistent management of all aspects of oceans management within NZ’s jurisdiction.

• Assessing the economic opportunities for NZ oceans

• Defining oceans management at the local level

• Taking account of pending government decisions on public access and customary rights to the foreshore and seabed

• Making marine management rules consistent in NZ

• Analysing the three stages of the Oceans Policy development

Property rights for fisheries in New Zealand

Lack of a well defined and managed property rights regime is the primary cause of the failure of fisheries management internationally. Crucial to the success of any property regime is that fisheries be given a long-term and vested interest in the fishery. Where property regimes have been successful in fisheries it appears that fishers have been allocated roles in management.

• Valuation: understanding the aspects of property rights that affect commercial value

• Avoiding a ‘race to fish’ between conflicting groups of rights holders

• Examining the rules for valuing quota

Latest developments in export and trade for the fisheries industry

• Promoting comprehensive market access liberalisation for seafood products among WTO member countries

• Preventing technical barriers to trade

• Complying with guidelines issued by the Seafoods Standards Council

By-catch management within a rights-based system

• Are ITQs appropriate for multi-species fisheries or fisheries where bycatch rates are high

• Examining the difficulties associated with non-selective production technology

• Managing quota by allowing vessels to buy quota to offset bycatch

• To what extent are incentive-based

approaches more appropriate than traditional command and control input regulations in the management of bycatch?

Managing investment and security risks

• Penalty regimes and their implications for investment

• Forfeiture regimes for quota, vessels and other property