Design and Implementation of Catch Share Programs in U.S. Commercial Fisheries

“Catch Share” is a generic term for a range of fishery management programs that allocate a portion of an annual catch limit to individuals, cooperatives, communities, or sectors. In practice a fisherman typically receives a secure, but temporary, privilege to harvest a specific quantity of fish. The recipients are obligated to limit their catch to no more than their allocation.  Since 1990 regional fishery management councils have adopted 15 catch share programs to meet the specific goals of particular commercial fisheries. In 2010 NOAA announced its national catch share policy that encourages voluntary use of such programs to help rebuild fisheries and sustain fishermen and communities. It stresses adherence to the Magnuson-Stevens Act legal and policy requirements for the use of catch shares. Identifying specific management goals, ensuring long term fishing community stability, encouraging participation and fair treatment of all individuals and sectors, conducting thorough analysis of initial allocation and transfer provisions, and careful monitoring and adjustment of management plans over time are emphasized. 

The catch share model is relatively new to commercial fisheries management in the Northeastern United States, but success in implementation in the European fisheries and the Pacific Northwestern region of the United States indicates that it has broad potential. Various aspects of catch share management will be discussed , ranging from policy issues in model implementation, history, and outreach, to more technical issues, such as data analysis in a catch share environment and maintaining quality assurance. The management perspective from the commercial side (as counterpoint to the regulatory side) would also be considered, as well as socioeconomic impacts on fisheries of transitioning to a catch share management model. Attendees and participants will be provided a platform for strengthening their knowledge of current catch share management issues and implications.