Reducing Fishing Capacity

Too many fishing vessels chasing too few fish is a persistent problem in many countries. To address this, governments often turn to vessel decommissioning schemes as a means of adjusting fishing capacity to match available fish resources. This report presents a set of best practice guidelines on the design and implementation of decommissioning schemes. By drawing on case studies of decommissioning schemes from OECD and non-OECD countries, it provides policy makers and fisheries managers with detailed analysis of the economic issues surrounding decommissioning schemes.

List of Acronyms Executive Summary Introduction Chapter 1. Economic Issues in Decommissioning Programmes -Objectives of the Schemes -Existing and Future Management Arrangements -Financing Decommissioning Schemes -Purchasing Vessels or Licenses? -Voluntary or Mandatory Participation? -Determining the Price -Conditions for Further Use of the Vessel or License -Role of Expectations and Moral Hazard -Ex Post Evaluation Chapter 2. Selected Case Studies of Decommissioning Schemes -Industry-Funded Buyout in the United States Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crab Fishery -NGO-Funded Permit Buyout in the United States Pacific Groundfish Fishery -Australia's Business Exit Assistance Scheme under the Securing our Fishing Future Structural Adjustment Package -Mandatory Buyout of Large-Scale Tuna Long-Line Vessels in Chinese Taipei -Decommissioning Schemes in France -Decommissioning Schemes in Korea Chapter 3. Political Economic Aspects of Decommissioning Schemes -Drivers for Decommissioning Schemes -Distribution of Costs and Benefits from Decommissioning Schemes -Decommissioning Schemes as Compensation Strategies -Policy Credibility Chapter 4. Principles and Guidelines for Decommissioning Schemes -Principles -Guidelines Bibliography