Ministry of Fisheries (New Zealand)
The Ministry of Fisheries, also known by its acronym MFish, is a state sector organisation of New Zealand whose role is ensuring the sustainable utilisation of fisheries. It was merged into the Ministry of Primary Industries in April 2012. Its purpose is conserving, using, enhancing and developing New Zealand's fisheries resources.History
The Ministry of Fisheries was established as a stand-alone agency in 1995, after a major governmental review of fisheries legislation, as well as ongoing reforms in the New Zealand State Sector. Previously, responsibility for fisheries belonged to New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, which later became New Zealand's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry when the Ministry of Forestry merged with the remaining Ministry of Agriculture in 1998. Under the Fifth National Government, the Ministry of Fisheries was merged back into MAF from 1 July 2011, and then into the Ministry for Primary Industries in 2012.
The subsequent Labour-led government has announced it will break up the Ministry for Primary Industries and has re-established the portfolio of Minister of Fisheries.Responsibilities
The Ministry is primarily responsible for fisheries management within New Zealand's Exclusive Economic Zone. It aims to ensure that fisheries are sustainably used within a healthy aquatic ecosystem MFish also undertakes fisheries research to provide information needed to determine how many fish and other marine organisms can be safely taken while ensuring the sustainability of the resource.
