NEW ZEALAND'S COST-RECOVERY REGIME FOR FISHERIES RESEARCH SERVICES: AN INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

摘要

Three major drivers toward New Zealand's system for the specification, purchase, and provision of fisheries research services were the state service-sector reforms started in the mid-1980s, fisheries management reforms starting with the introduction of the quota management system in 1986, and the introduction of a cost-recovery regime for fisheries services from 1994 onwards. Our critical review of this system reveals success in providing high-quality research largely funded by those that benefit from it but only limited progress toward the objectives of increasing efficiency and accountability and devolving responsibility to stakeholders. We see two steps as essential: greater public funding of marine research (although not as an alternative to industry's paying its share) and improvement of government planning processes to provide clear linkages between fisheries-management needs and all required research, less research-provider influence, and use of the most appropriate funding mechanism. Competitiveness among research providers must also be increased. If devolution is to be pursued, industry must take the risk of investing heavily in capacity building, in restructuring of its organization, and in developing fisheries plans.