Social and economic consequences of 40 years of Dutch quota management. (June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hoefnagel, Ellen; de Vos, Birgit
• Is Part Of: Marine policy. Volume 80(2017)
• Page Start: 81
• Page End: 87
• Publication Date: 2017-06
• Subjects: ITQs -- Co-management -- Dutch fisheries policy -- Social change -- Economic change; Marine resources -- Economic aspects -- Periodicals; Fisheries -- Periodicals; Ressources marines -- Aspect économique -- Périodiques; Pêches -- Périodiques; Fisheries; Marine resources -- Economic aspects; Periodicals; 333.916405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2016.09.019
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0308-597X

Abstract

Abstract: The Netherlands was one of the first nations to introduce ITQs in their fisheries to manage national yearly Total Allowable Catches (TACs). These ITQs have gradually developed from an individual quota system in 1976 to an ITQ system in the 1980s. In 1993 the system was reformed into a co-management system. In this paper it is argued that many of the usual negative socio-economic consequences of ITQs mentioned in the literature have been largely absent, due to the embeddedness of ITQs in co-management arrangements. However, cracks have appeared lately in this combined management system, allowing an identification of its vulnerabilities. These findings show that the social and economic structure of Dutch fisheries is changing from a rather cooperative to a more competitive and exclusive system, more like conventional ITQs. Highlights: Dutch fisheries are a living experiment in an ITQs/co-management combination. Positive economic results of ITQs are very slight. Co-management created a more accountable operation of the ITQ market. New members, international focus, and neoliberal climate diluted the system.