Ministry of Fisheries (New Zealand) 2250962 211433285 2008-05-10T09:13:27Z Geronimo20 332930 add cat {{unreferenced|date=February 2008}} The '''Ministry of Fisheries''' ([[Maori language|Māori]]: ''Te Tautiaki i nga tini a Tangaroa''), also known by its acronym '''MFish''', is a [[state sector organisations in New Zealand|state sector organisation]] of [[New Zealand]] whose role is ensuring the sustainable utilisation of [[fisheries]]. This involves conserving, using, enhancing and developing New Zealand's fisheries resources. New Zealand's Minister of Fisheries is the Hon. [[Jim Anderton]]. The Ministry's 2004/2005 operating budget was $85 million. [[Image:Newzealandministryoffisheries.gif|frame|]] ==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|MAF]], New Zealand's Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, 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. ==Responsibilities== The Ministry is primarily responsible for [[fisheries management]] within New Zealand's {{convert|200|nmi|km|-2|sing=on}} [[Exclusive Economic Zone]] (EEZ). It tries to ensure that fisheries are sustainably used within a healthy aquatic [[ecosystem]], and employs approximately 400 staff throughout New Zealand, most of who police fisheries to ensure compliance with the conservation and access/allocation rules, set by Government. MFish also undertakes fisheries [[research]] to provide information needed to determine how many [[fish]] and other marine organisms (of various species) can be safely taken while ensuring the [[sustainability]] of the resource. ==External links== *[http://www.fish.govt.nz Official website] {{NZ Public Service Departments}} [[Category:Government agencies of New Zealand|Fisheries]] [[Category:Conservation in New Zealand]] [[Category:Fisheries ministries]] [[Category:Law enforcement in New Zealand]]