Description and Evaluation of the Wreckfish (Polyprion Americanus) Fishery under Individual Transferable Quotas

Abstract

"The individual transferahle quota (ITQ) system for wreckfish (Polyprion americanus) in the South Atlantic will be an important test of the practical merits of individual quota management for finfish fisheries in the United States. This paper describes the wreckfish ITQ program in detail and discusses difficulties encountered in its development. Beyond providing information on the practical constraints of setting up ITQs to managers contemplating ITQs for other fisheries, another goal is to evaluate the degree to which the wreckfish ITQ program is accomplishing its resource conservation, economic, and conflict reduction objectives. Analysis of data and experiences over the one and one-half year period during which the wreckfish ITQ has been in place are provided. Linked to the discussion of accomplishing objectives is an evaluation of the degree that consolidation has taken place and the tradeoff between efficiency goals and concerns over monopoly power."