User Based Fisheries Funding and It's Impact on Fisheries Managment

In the late 1990s the sea scallop fishery was in crisis.  In response, the fishing industry collaborated with university scientists and NOAA Fisheries to conduct research conducted in Closed Area II funded through the harvest of the scallop resource.  This evolved into the Research Set Aside (RSA) program where a percentage of the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) is set aside to fund high priority research in support of fishery management plans. We evaluated the management impact of the scallop RSA. We looked at the program’s ability to fulfill research priorities, contribute to science through peer reviewed publications, influence fisheries management decisions, and promote stewardship in the fishing industry from 2000-2009. We compared the scallop RSA to three other RSAs in the northeast to determine the factors leading to high management impact. Of the four RSA programs, the scallop RSA has been utilized most in fisheries management. Factors contributing to scallop RSA success include the initial buy-in and development of the program by the industry, the involvement of RSA scientists in the management process, and the high price of scallops. A limiting factor in scallop RSA success is the lack of industry input on which projects are awarded RSA quota.