4 - Implementation of TACs in the North Atlantic Fisheries

Managing fisheries by total allowable catches (TACs) is demanding in terms of regulatory and administrative implementation, as it requires a system for monitoring and limiting fishing mortality adequately. There has been quite a bit of research on the cha llenges connected with TAC-based management, such as the role and reliability of science, the politics of setting catch quotas and the causes of non-compliance. However, little research has addressed the role of administrative solutions to the basic probl ems of adequate monitoring of fishing mortality and proper enfrocement. This study will thus focus on national experiences, challenges and solutions in terms of implementation of TACs. The study addresses three main questions. 1. What are the central fea tures of today's management systems in terms of monitoring of fishing mortality and enforcement of catch quotas? 2. How were these systems developed? 3. What are their strengths and weaknesses in terms of efficient implementation of TAC regulations? This project will conduct a cross-national comparison of the relevant management components, as well as the origin and conditions for their existence.We will mainly focus on cases with relevance to Norwegian fisheries and management, and Norway and the EU wil l constitute the main comparative dimension. The data will consist of acts public documents and informant interviews with relevant personnel within management and industry. Today's fisheries management systems are approximately 30 years old, and are re sults of incremental processes of learning by trial and error. The fundamental rationale for this project is that we have reached a point in the history of fisheries management where we can increase this knowledge further by comparing national experiences and developments.