Seven steps to designing catch shares

Step 1 - Define program goals

  • Identify the program's biological and ecological goals
  • Identify the program's economic goals
  • Identify the program's social goals
  • Balance trade-offs

Step 2 - Define and quantify the available resource

  • Determine which species will be included
  • Determine which stocks will be included
  • Delineate the spatial range and identify zones
  • Determine the allowable catch limit for each species, stock and zone

Step 3 - Define eligible participants

  • Decide if the privilege will be allocated to individuals or groups
  • Determine who may hold and fish shares
  • Establish limits on the concentration of shares
  • Determine how new participants will enter the fishery

Step 4 - Define the privilege

  • Decide whether the privilege will be species-based or species and area-based
  • Determine the tenure length of the privilege
  • Define the long-term share
  • Determine the annual allocation unit
  • Decide if the catch share will be permanently and/or temporarily transferable
  • Determine any restrictions on trading and use of shares

Step 5 - Assign the privilege

  • Establish a decision-making body for initial allocation
  • Determine when allocation will occur
  • Establish an appeals process
  • Determine who is eligible to receive shares
  • Decide whether initial shares will be auctioned or granted
  • Determine how many shares eligible recipients will receive
  • Identify and gather available data for allocation decisions

Step 6 - Develop administrative systems

  • Establish how trading will occur
  • Determine how catch accounting will work
  • Determine what fishery information is required for science, catch accounting and enforcement
  • Determine who covers the program cost

Step 7 - Assess performance and innovate

  • Conduct regular program reviews
  • Assess performance against goals
  • Encourage innovation

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