management services. Recent reforms include the provision of services by agencies outside the Ministry of Fisheries (including fisheries research), the transfer of fisheries stock assessment research into a Crown Research Institute, and the establishment of a stand-alone Ministry of Fisheries. The role of the Ministry of Fisheries is being reduced to one of policy advice; determining the standards and specifications for and purchasing, monitoring, and auditing the contestable services; liaison and facilitating conflict and dispute resolution; and enforcement, compliance, and prosecutions. Contestable services will potentially include all the other functions currently performed by Ministry of Fisheries, including administration of quota and permit registries, catch and effort data management, satellite vessel monitoring, and the observer program. Consultation is occurring on the direct contracting of some of these services by the industry.