Use of an Arbitration System for Price Determination in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Crab Fisheries

• Main Author: Fina, Mark
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: English; unknown
• Published: International Institute of Fisheries Economics and Trade
• Subjects: Fishery management; Fisheries; Bering Sea; Aleutian Islands
• Online Access: https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/conference_proceedings_or_journals/9880vr78f

In the summer of 2005, fishing began under a novel management program in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands crab fisheries. To protect processor and community interests, the program requires harvesters to land their catch with processors having historic participation in the fisheries. This requirement effectively prevents processor competition for landings as a price determinant in the fisheries. As a substitute for market competition, the program established a controversial arbitration system for resolving price disputes. This paper examines the performance of the arbitration system under the program to date. The paper also examines whether some of the issues with the arbitration system might be correctable either through modification of the arbitration system or without regulatory intervention. Keywords: Crab fisheries, Price determination, Aleutian Islands, Bering Sea, Processor competition, Arbitration system, Fisheries Economics