Economics, Trade and Incentive Measures

 
Submission
ID 5475
Submitting Entity Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
Submitted for Fifth Ordinary Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 5)
 
Main Information
Title Individual transferable quotas as an incentive measure for the conservation and the sustainable use of marine biodiversity
Description This OECD study discusses the use of individual transferable quotas (ITQs) for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity. When total allowable catches (TACs) are established for commercial fisheries, the rights to fish can be allocated through ITQs, which allow the holder to fish a certain proportion of total allowable catch. These quotas essentially define property rights over the resources, allowing the maximization of privately appropriable resource rents. The study emphasized that other complementary measures may be required as well to achieve the desired conservation aims, including regulations specifying minimum mesh size, conditions pertaining to gear and vessels, or limits on the number of days at sea; the reduction of subsidies to production, infrastructure and vessels, and the removal of barriers to trade; vessel buy-back programmes; incentives to conserve and sustainably use the surrounding ecosystem and particularly non-commercial species; and, as a last resort, moratoriums on over-fished fisheries. In addition, it was found that ITQs work best in small, isolated fisheries where there is some social cohesion and where education and re-training programmes are offered if necessary. It is essential to gain the cooperation and active participation of the involved fishers.
Web Link /doc/case-studies/inc/cs-inc-oecd-23-en.pdf
 
Additional Information
Ecosystems Marine and Coastal Biodiversity
Regions Global
Incentive Measures Indirect Incentives (property rights, market creation)
Reform of Perverse Incentives
Regulations / Access Restrictions
Keywords Community participation
Subsidy reform
Strengthening property rights (land tenure, ...)
Tradable permits/use rights
Training
Training programmes