Providing incentives for fishermen through rights-based co-management systems. An impact-assessment on Basque fisheries

Abstract

This research examines the social, economic and coercive incentives provided by fisheries management measures. Qualitative information was collected through interviews, and focus groups were organized to gather knowledge from regional stakeholders, to provide regional and European authorities with empirical evidence of the perceived legitimacy of current and future management measures under different co-management systems. Legitimacy greatly influences fishermen's behavior and therefore compliance. Qualitative and quantitative information are combined in an impact-assessment analysis to identify biosocioeconomic impacts of different management measures on the fishing activity, under the current Common Fisheries Policy, in the medium and long term. The results will help regional and European authorities define new management measures aimed at providing the right incentives to achieve the results. This paper demonstrates the necessity of introducing management measures that combine the various types of incentives mentioned. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.