Fourth Capitol Hill Briefing on IFQs

Date: April 12, 2007
Place: 1334 Longworth House Office Building, Washington D.C.
Title: Beyond IFQs in Marine Fisheries

PERC, Environmental Defense, and the Reason Public Policy Institute presented a briefing to staff and press on April 12^th entitled "Beyond Individual Fishing Quotas (IFQs) in U.S. Fisheries."

Growing evidence indicates that individual fishing quotas (IFQs), now called limited access privilege programs (LAPPs), have improved economic performance while helping achieve sustainable resource management in commercial fisheries. There is still room , however, to improve other aspects of fisheries management. In fisheries with IFQs, there are additional changes that can help fishermen participate directly in improving management of the resource. Where local conditions for cooperative management exist, there are other managerial tools such as fishing cooperatives and area-wide management that can improve fisheries management.

To help us address this important topic, we invited four noted fisheries experts to share their experiences here in the U.S. as well as in other areas of the world.