This study was a theoretical investigation into an alternative management system for the surf clam fisheries. Although the surf clams have no commercial, recreational or traditional fishing history, there is potential for a commercial fishery to develop. This fishery could provide substantial employment and revenue for the country. This study has revealed that under the current legislation, (Fisheries Act 1983) the fishery would be managed under the Quota Management System (QMS) in the same manner as all sedentary shellfish and mobile fish populations. The QMS is unlikely to lead to a sustainably managed commercial shellfish fishery. Potential problems were identified with serial depletion, setting TAC levels, enforcement and monitoring, cost recovery and allocation of quota. Due to these problems, a series of alternative property rights systems have been proposed which assign individual fishers the sole rights to fishery areas. There were two options offered for fishing these areas. These were, for the fisher to harvest the population in any manner so long as environmental bottom lines are adhered to, or, by having a TAC set for each individual fishery area. These rights would be tradeable and available either in perpetuity, or for an arbitrarily chosen fixed period of time (ten years). These systems were evaluated under the assumption that individuals act in a rational manner seeking to maximise self interest. Each management option was evaluated using a series of management objectives established from throughout the report. The results showed that all of the management options offer a certain degree of sustainability. Choosing the most preferred option will depend upon the political objectives of the Government at the time. There were a series of issues that were pertinent to all of the management options, these related to how the system would be initially introduced and divided among fishers. There were also unsolved issues related to providing for the provisions in the Fisheries Act (1983), and the Treaty of Waitangi Act (1992), which allocate quota to Maori, and establish Mataitai and Taiapure reserves. Finally, methods of developing a transition process were discussed to provide for the introduction of anyone of the proposed management options.

Chapters: 1) Canada and the fisheries; 2) The jurisdictional context for fisheries management in Canada; 3) Some biological and economic aspects of fish and fishing; 4) Objectives of fishery management; 5) Techniques of resource management; 6) Resource management of Canada's marine fisheries; 7) Managing the common property. I. Allocation of access; 8) II. Limited entry licensing; 9) III. Individual quotas; 10) The international dimension. I. The evolution and impact of extended fisheries jurisdiction; 11) II. Canadian international fisheries policy following extension of jurisdiction; 12) III. Canada's fisheries relations with its neighbours; 13) Riding the roller coaster; 14) The social dimension; 15) Reconciling conflicting interests; 16) Habitat management; 17) Science and fisheries management. I. The development of fisheries research and the scientific advisory process; 18) II. Fisheries science: challenge and opportunity; 19) Ensuring compliance: fisheries enforcement; 20) Some observations on marine fisheries management in other countries.

The Western Pacific Fishery Information Network (WPACFlN) is an intergovernmental agency cooperative program sponsored by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to help participating island fisheries agencies carry out data collection, analysis, reporting programs, and data management activities to better support fisheries management under the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act; and to help meet local fisheries information and management needs. The WPACFlN is the central source of information for Federal fisheries management of most fisheries in American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands, and it plays an important role in acquiring fisheries data in Hawaii. This paper describes the development and status of this fishery information system.

This contribution provides an approach for constructing models of large marine ecosystems (LMEs). This contribution results from an attempt to follow up on some of the implications of the LME concept for ecological modeling, especially approaches that place emphasis on fish and other living resources, and hence on fisheries management.

This report describes management approaches in Northern cod, lobster, Atlantic herring, Atlantic salmon, and snow crab Atlantic fisheries and the contrasting approaches to finfish and invertebrate management. The important role of the marine environment in determining resource productivity is also emphasized. Other topics covered include Arctic marine fisheries, emphasizing the Northwest Territories; the British Columbia Pacific salmon and herring fisheries; federal assistance to the Canadian fishing industry; the reliability of scientific advice on fisheries management; a discussion of the Kirby and Pearse inquiries; and aquaculture.

There have been major changes in the management of fisheries resources in South Australia. One of the main areas of change has been in the objectives, structure and management of the old Fisheries Department. Fisheries is now a group within the Department of Primary Industries. The research staff have been moved into a common research resource, SARDI (South Australian Research and Development Institute). Perhaps the most important change for fishers is that all fishing resources are now managed by Integrated Management Committees, made up of representatives from all areas, including commercial and recreational fishers, scientists and fisheries managers.