Date of Award

1995

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Marine Affairs

Abstract

The state-by-state quota regulation contained in Amendment 2 to the Summer Flounder Fishery Management Plan became effective on January 1, 1993. The research sought to determine the implications that the state-by-state quotas have imposed on federal summer flounder permit holders. commercial fishermen were believed to have landed their summer flounder out-of-state to take advantage of more favorable possession limits in other states, and to have accrued higher costs as a result of their decisions to land out-of-state. A survey was administered to commercial fishermen in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and North Carolina, to ascertain behavioral changes, as a result of state-by-state quotas. The research also examined the proliferation of state licensing requirements, the loss of traditional fisheries, and captains engaging in unsafe navigational practices. The inquiry sought to determine whether state-by-state quotas have created inefficient practices among the commercial fishing industry, which is contrary to the intent of National Standard 5 of the Magnuson Fishery Management and Conservation Act of 1976. National Standard 5 requires that all fisheries management plans promote efficiency whenever practicable. The researcher believes that Amendment 2 does not promote efficiency in the commercial summer flounder fishery, because higher costs have been accrued, with no additional benefit to the resource. it is believed that an alternative to state-by-state quotas, specifically regional quotas, could meet the overfishing definition specified in the Plan, while imposing less costs to the industry.

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