Compliance, research and policy are the cornerstones of the tripartite approach to fisheries management and sustainability but there is a need for regulators to demonstrate that compliance programmes are delivering efficient and effective outcomes. Past experience with government audit and third party accreditation of compliance service delivery indicates that there is a lack of a credible, reviewable framework for measuring fisheries compliance outcomes that can readily demonstrate value for money and an assessment of quality.
Delivering effective fisheries compliance is expensive and while cost minimisation is generally admirable, reduction of compliance resources beyond a certain point will certainly lead to poor outcomes for sustainability and regulator reputation (Sutinen and Kuperan 1990). An inability to pinpoint critical minimum resourcing levels to maintain compliance outcomes is highly likely to result in reduction of resource levels below that minimum level.
Stakeholders in fisheries resources (both extractive and non-extractive) need fisheries compliance outcome measures for two reasons: to be assured that compliance resources are being optimally used to deliver efficient and effective compliance programmes, and to know that the management framework is effective and trigger changes if necessary. Subjective perceptions of adequacy are insufficient.
Suitable measures of compliance outcomes must be adaptable to different fisheries and sectors, practical for jurisdictions to implement, support management objectives and recognise that the governance framework itself may not be appropriate for optimal compliance. Fisheries management is often dynamic, biologically and politically, so any outcome indicators must be able to accommodate that dynamism.
This project addresses the FRDC Strategic Priority Area objective of "Develop more cost-effective, efficient regulatory processes and co-management arrangements" from Theme 5 of the Industry Program. It is relevant to the national research and development priority of an environmentally sustainable Australia and the rural research priority of natural resource management.