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Planning fisheries research

We determine what research is needed for our fisheries through our:

  • fisheries plan processes
  • fisheries management 5-year operational plans
  • fisheries management annual tactical plans
  • obligations under international fisheries plans.

Research opportunities

The process of procuring research services projects runs for about 6 months each year. The process usually starts at the beginning of each financial year (July).

Opportunities are advertised through the Government Electronic Tendering Service (GETS). Suppliers can register for free to receive alerts when open tenders are advertised.

Browse government tenders – GETS

The timing of financial years and annual cost recovery updates are different. So some projects procured before 1 October (when levies are updated) may change.

Fisheries research services for 2024–25 [PDF, 1.9 MB]

Research contracting and tendering

We have different procurement approaches for fisheries research, as defined here:

  • Open tender: The tender is advertised on GETS. It is open to all interested domestic and international suppliers to participate in the procurement.
  • Direct source: Direct approach to a supplier due to limited capability in the supply market, for additional goods and services following an open tender, or for a previously unsuccessful tender process or if the requirement is low value.
  • Panel competitive: A tender process where MPI invites more than one member of a prequalified MPI supplier panel to respond to a contract opportunity.
  • Panel direct: A tender process where MPI asks one panel member only to respond to a contract opportunity because there is only one supplier on the panel with capability or capacity.

MPI currently has 2 panels for fisheries research:

  • highly migratory species and inshore panel
  • deepwater panel. 

Approved suppliers on these panels went through a competitive process to join. The panels are refreshed when necessary.

Evaluations and negotiations start after a tender round close. This process may overlap with the periods in which new tenders are released. Our cost recovery obligations mean that we need to consult with commercial organisations on a project if:

  • objectives are added to or removed from a project
  • projects are delayed for a long time
  • costs are very different to the estimates.

We award contracts to the tenderer who we believe can best provide the required service cost effectively.

Tender instructions and information about the evaluation process and criteria are included in tender documents.

Previous research contracts

You can download lists of the fisheries research contracts by financial year for the recent past.

Fisheries research projects 2021-2022 [PDF, 451 KB]

Fisheries research projects 2020-2021 [PDF, 461 KB]

Fisheries research projects 2019-2020 [PDF, 367 KB]

Fisheries research projects 2018-2019 [PDF, 425 KB]

Fisheries research projects 2017-2018 [PDF, 410 KB]

Award notices are posted on GETS for all procurements that are tendered through that service once the contracts have been fully executed. This occurs for most of the fisheries research procurements and includes all open tenders and most other types of procurement for fisheries research. This information is viewable through GETS. You do not need to be registered to view this.

Browse government tenders – GETS

Research and science information standard

All research must meet our quality standard.

Research and science information standard for NZ fisheries [PDF, 1.2 MB]

Use the forms and templates on the following page to provide reporting back to us on your fisheries research contract.

Fisheries research contract templates and guidance

Reviewing research outcomes

We run technical working groups as needed to evaluate research and review outcomes. These groups follow a peer-review process to ensure that the research is accurate.

Fisheries science working groups review:

  • research on aquatic environment issues (including protected species)
  • fish stock assessments
  • recreational catch estimates
  • biodiversity research.

There are fisheries science working groups for:

  • Antarctic
  • Aquatic Environment – Benthic and Habitats
  • Aquatic Environment – Non-Target Fish and Invertebrate Catch
  • Aquatic Environment – Protected Species
  • Biodiversity Research (BRAG)
  • Deepwater
  • Eel
  • Fisheries data
  • Highly Migratory Species
  • Marine Amateur Fisheries
  • Inshore
  • Rock Lobster
  • Shellfish
  • South Pacific
  • Statistics Assessment Methods.

Who to contact

If you have questions about fisheries science and research or the procurement process for these projects, email info@mpi.govt.nz

MPI business units