A comparative review of fisheries management experiences in the European Union and in other countries worldwide Iceland, Australia, and New Zealand

• Published in: Fish and Fisheries
• Main Authors: Marchal, Paul, Andersen, Jesper Levring, Aranda, Martin, Fitzpatrick, Mike, Goti, Leyre, Guyader, Olivier, Haraldsson, Gunnar, Hatcher, Aaron, Hegland, Troels Jacob, Le Floc'h, Pascal, Macher, Claire, Malvarosa, Loretta, Maravelias, Christos D., Mardle, Simon, Murillas, Arantza, Nielsen, J. Rasmus, Sabatella, Rosaria, Smith, Anthony D. M., Stokes, Kevin, Thoegersen, Thomas, Ulrich, Clara
• Other Authors: Laboratoire Ressources halieutiques Manche Mer du nord, IFREMER Centre Manche Mer du Nord, (HMMN), Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER), University of Copenhagen = Københavns Universitet (KU), AZTI - Tecnalia, National University of Ireland Galway (NUI Galway), Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute, Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries, Institute of Sea Fisheries, Aménagement des Usages des Ressources et des Espaces marins et littoraux - Centre de droit et d'économie de la mer (AMURE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Brest (UBO)-Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER)-Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer (IUEM), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université de Brest (UBO)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), University of Iceland Reykjavik, Portsmouth Business School Portsmouth, Aalborg University Denmark (AAU), Fishery and Aquaculture Research Organisation (NISEA), Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), DTU Aqua, National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark Lyngby (DTU), CSIRO Marine and Atmosphere Research Hobart, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Canberra (CSIRO), European Union 289192
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2016
• Subjects: Australia; comparative review; European Union; fisheries management; Iceland; New Zealand; [SDE]Environmental Sciences; [SDE.ES]Environmental Sciences/Environmental and Society; Northeast Atlantic
• Online Access: https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02152553; https://doi.org/10.1111/faf.12147

This study compares the details and performance of fisheries management between the EU and a selection of other countries worldwide Iceland, New Zealand, and Australia, which are considered in many respects to be among the most advanced in the world in fisheries management. Fisheries management in the EU, Iceland, Australia, and New Zealand has developed following different paths, despite being based on similar instruments and principles. Iceland, Australia, and New Zealand have been at the forefront of developing management practices such as stakeholder involvement, legally binding management targets (Australia, New Zealand), individual transferable quotas, and discard bans (Iceland, New Zealand). The EU has since the beginning of the 21st century taken significant steps to better involve stakeholders and establish quantitative targets through management plans, and a landing obligation is gradually being implemented from 2015 onward. The management of domestic fisheries resources in Australia, New Zealand, and Iceland has, overall, performed better than in the EU, in terms of conservation and economic efficiency. It should, however, be stressed that, compared to Australia, New Zealand, and Iceland, (i) initial over-capacity was more of an issue in the EU when management measures became legally binding and also that (ii) EU has been progressive in developing common enforcement standards, on stocks shared by sovereign nations. The situation of EU fisheries has substantially improved over the period 2004-2013 in the northeast Atlantic, with fishery status getting close to that in the other jurisdictions, but the lack of recovery for Mediterranean fish stocks remains a concern.