Fisheries Minister David Benson-Pope today approved a plan to combat illegal domestic and high seas fishing.
The plan included requiring fishing permits, registering vessels, reporting requirements and vessel inspections.
Illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing had widespread environmental, social and economic consequences and adversely affected species such as the patagonian toothfish, MrBenson-Pope said.
"It also distorts competition and jeopardises the economic survival of those who fish legitimately," he said.
"Because of their lower operating costs, IUU fishers gain an unjust economic advantage over legitimate fishers. The impacts of IUU fishing undermine international, regional and national efforts to effectively conserve and manage fish stocks and the impacts of fishing.
"The sustainability of global fisheries resources is one of the key environmental challenges that face the international community in the next decade."
Mr Benson-Pope would also sit on the International Ministerial Task Force on illegal fishing set up by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
The National Plan of Action includes:
Fishing permit requirements
Requirement to hold annual catch entitlement to cover all target and bycatch species caught, or alternatively, to pay deemed values
Fishing permit and fishing vessel registers
Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) requirements
Vessel and gear marking requirements
Fishing gear and method restrictions
Observer Programme
Reporting (including catch and effort reporting) requirements
Vessel inspections
Control of landings (e.g. requirement to land only to licensed fish receivers)
Record keeping requirements
Auditing of licensed fish receivers
Monitored unloads of fish
Information management and intelligence analysis
Analysis of catch and effort reporting and comparison with VMS, observer, landing and trade data to confirm accuracy
Boarding and inspection by fishery officers at sea
Aerial and surface surveillance, and
Any other measures agreed by Regional Fisheries Management Organisations to which New Zealand is a member, e.g. application of CCAMLR Catch Documentation Scheme for vessels catching toothfish
