Section 8 Purpose (better known as the "religious bits")

1. The purpose of this Act is to provide for the utilisation of fisheries while ensuring sustainability.
2. In this Act-
   "ensuring sustainability" means -
   (a) Maintaining the potential of fisheries resources to meet the reasonably foreseeable needs of future generations; and
   (b) Avoiding, remedying, or mitigating any adverse effects of fishing on the environment:
   "utilisation" means conserving, using, enhancing, and developing fisheries recourses to enable people to provide for their social, economic and cultural well being.

Section 11 Sustainability measures

1. The Minister may, from time to time, set or vary any sustainability measure for one or more stocks or areas, after taking in account -
   (a) Any effects of fishing on any stock and the aquatic environment; and
   (b) Any existing controls under this Act that apply to the stock or area concerned;
   (c) The natural variability of the stock concerned.

   (note: the Ministry make a clear distinction between Sustainability measures and Allocation decisions)

Section 12 (Before doing anything the Minister shall Consult)

Section 21 Matters to be taken into account in setting or varying any total allowable commercial catch -

1. In setting or varying any total allowable commercial catch for any quota management stock, the Minister shall have regard to the total allowable catch for that stock and shall allow for -
   (a) The following non-commercial fishing interests in that stock, namely -
   (i) Maori customary noncommercial fishing interests; and
   (ii) Recreational interests; and
   (b) All other mortality to that stock caused by fishing.
2. Before setting or varying a total allowable commercial catch for any quota management stock, the Minister shall consult such persons and organizations as the Minister considers are representative of those classes of persons having an interest in this section, including Maori, environmental commercial and recreational interests.
3. After setting or varying a total allowable commercial catch for any quota management .... the Minister shall as soon as practicable, give to the parties consulted.... reasons in writing for his or her decisions.