Rational Fishery Management in a Depressed Region: the Atlantic Groundfishery

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The economic and social milieu of the commercial fisheries in the Atlantic provinces of Canada is described, followed by an analysis of the structure of the major sector, the fishery based on the demersal stocks of the region. Existence of the classic features of mature fisheries, i.e. congestion and economic distress, is established for this fishery and the causes considered. Extended national jurisdiction over the use of fishery resources, it is argued, while it improves opportunity for development, does not affect those causes. Possible approaches to rational management of the fishery are reviewed, in particular the institution of inducements for fishing enterprises to minimize production costs. A discussion in this respect of quasi property rights for resource users and associated problems concludes the paper. Key words: economic depression, congested fisheries, regional development, Atlantic provinces, groundfish(demersal) resources, industrial structure, fishery management, rationalization, quasi property rights.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: