Assessing Catch Shares' Effects: Evidence from Federal United States and Associated British Columbian Fisheries

The successful management of fisheries affects millions of people across America. However, many fisheries are fully or overexploited, negatively impacting oceans and fishermen. In the United States, 54 stocks are classified as overfished, 36 stocks are experiencing overfishing and in 2010 half of the nation’s stocks remained in an uncertain state. Declining stocks and lost fishing opportunities have economic consequences as well, including market gluts and unstable or declining employment opportunities. There are a growing number of examples where management has prevented these issues by aligning fishermen’s economic stakes with the biological health of fish stocks. A recent study of 15 North American catch share fisheries reveals that when carefully designed and implemented, these programs result in environmental, economic and social improvements.  Impacts include higher revenues, a reduction in discarded fish, improved safety for fishermen on the job and greater economic and employment stability. This presentation, Sustaining America’s Fisheries: Evidence of a System With Environmental, Social and Professional Gains, will discuss the results of this analysis and examine how well-designed and implemented fishery management programs can address environmental, social and economic concerns using examples of fisheries that have transitioned from traditional management to catch shares.