Co-operation and Collaboration

In recent years the industry has supported a shift away from prescriptive regulatory fisheries management to a strong focus on more collaborative fisheries management including industry implementation of harvest rules which are monitored and audited by government. This collaboration includes all stakeholders and shareholders in the Deepwater Group along with government and non-government organisations and interested parties.

This partnership approach to fisheries management between the Deepwater Group and the Ministry of Fisheries is underpinned by a Memorandum of Understanding. This MOU sets out the agreement between the Ministry of Fisheries and the Deepwater Group to work in partnership outlining the prime areas and workplan to better manage deepwater fisheries. The two parties have developed a single joint-management framework with agreed strategic and operational priorities and workplans.

The partnership was formed to:

• Advise the Minister of Fisheries on clear and agreed objectives for the deepwater fisheries
• Advise the Minister of Fisheries on management measures to support these objectives
• Define service requirements to support these objectives
• Ensure efficient delivery and value from these services; and
• Provide consistent and agreed advice to the Minister wherever possible

The partnership is focused on determining the maximum economic yield of the deepwater fisheries by way of setting catch limits that maximise returns over the long term within the constraints of ecological sustainability. This collaborative approach to fisheries management has an industry wide impact on the behaviour of seafood companies by way of creating a "self management" responsibility amongst industry participants.

This co-operation between seafood companies replaces historic competitive behaviours, improves industry wide management initiatives and subsequent compliance with standards and outcomes set, monitored and audited by government.