Aquatic Environment and Biodiversity Annual Review 2012

AEBAR 2012: Appendices
2. The Ministry’s research planning processes should identify most information needs well in
advance but, if urgent issues arise, MPI fisheries managers will alert the Aquatic Environment
and Biodiversity Science Manager and the Principal Advisor Fisheries Science at least three
months prior to the required meetings where possible.
BRAG Technical objectives
3. To review, discuss and convey views on the results of marine biodiversity research projects
contracted by Ministry for Primary Industries MPI (formerly Ministry of Fisheries).
It is the responsibility of the BRAG to review, discuss, and convey views on the results of marine
biodiversity research projects contracted by MPI and the former Ministry of Fisheries. The review
process is an evaluation of how existing research results can be built upon to address emerging
research issues and needs. It is essentially an evaluation of "what we already know" and how this can
be used to obtain "what we need to know”. This information should be used by the BRAG to identify
gaps in our knowledge and for developing research plans to address these gaps.
4. Discuss, evaluate, make recommendations and convey views on a 3 to 5 year Medium Term
Research Plan.
It is the responsibility of BRAG participants to discuss, evaluate, make recommendations and convey
views on a 3 to 5 year Medium Term Research Plan for its particular research area as required.
Individual related projects on a species or fishery or research topic need to be integrated into Medium
Term Research Plans. The Medium Term Research Plans should encompass research needs and
directions for at least the next 3 to 5 years.
The Biodiversity Medium Term Research Plan is aligned to relevant strategic and policy directions
such as the "MPI Statement of Intent" and any Strategic Research Plan (Fisheries 2030, Deepwater 10
year research plan) and fisheries plans developed for the appropriate species/fishery or research area,
including biodiversity.
The recommendations on project proposals for the next financial year will be submitted via the Chair
of BRAG to the Principal Science Advisor Fisheries (MPI).
5. The Biodiversity Research Programme includes research in New Zealand’s TS, EEZ,
Extended Continental Shelf, the South Pacific Region and the Ross Sea region and has seven
scientific work streams as follows:
• To develop ecosystem-scale understanding of biodiversity in the New
Zealand marine environment
• To classify and characterise the biodiversity, including the description and
documentation of biota, associated with nearshore and offshore marine
habitats in New Zealand
• To investigate the role of biodiversity in the functional ecology of nearshore
and offshore marine communities.
• To assess developments in all aspects of biodiversity, including genetic
marine biodiversity and identify key topics for research
• To determine the effects of climate change and increased ocean acidification
on marine biodiversity, as well as effects of incursions of non-indigenous
species, and other threats and impacts.
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