Return to Catch Share Programs
First Review of The Trawl Catch Share Program (Completed in 2017, “Five Year Review”)
As required by law, the Council first reviewed the trawl catch share program and intersector allocations five years after their implementation.
- Trawl catch share review: main document
- Trawl catch share review: appendices
- Intersector allocation: final review
- Detailed timeline of the catch share review, Community Advisory Board roster. background materials, etc.
Second Review of The Trawl Catch Share Program (2024)
The Council began discussing the second catch share review in September 2022. However, work on the review was put on hold due to the Council’s ongoing consideration of a gear switching limitation. The Council took final action on gear switching at its April 2024 Council meeting and is now moving ahead with the second trawl catch share program review.
At its September 2024 meeting, the Council provided guidance relative to the scope and focus of the trawl catch share and intersector allocation reviews. For the trawl catch share review, the review document will look at the program performance of the trawl catch share program and provide a diagnosis of why the program does not appear to be meeting its economic goals and objectives. This includes factors related to program design and factors outside of the Council process. The non-whiting bottom trawl sector will have a high priority focus.
As part of the review, the Council will hold three in-person and two online hearings (one in the day, one in the evening). Council staff will notify the Council and the public of the dates and locations of the hearings in 2025.
Council Directed Studies of the Trawl Catch Share Program
Cost Project Phase 1
In 2022, NMFS provided the Council with funds for a contract to look more closely at catch share fishery costs that are borne by industry and NMFS. The first phase of the cost project covered three broad objectives:
- documentation of industry concerns and identifying costs related to specific program elements;
- comparison of those costs to similar catch share programs; and
- organization and presentation of the information for use in future deliberations.
The intent of the first effort was to help managers and stakeholders develop a common understanding of how the catch share program design elements affect program objectives and costs. The final Phase 1 report was provided to the Council at its September 2023 meeting.
Cost Project Phase 2
Phase 2 of the Cost Project focused on the policy decisions and tradeoffs that would be required to further reduce program costs. Additionally, it was recommended that it take up other ways to improve fishery performance and economic benefits under the program. Phase 2 of the project covered three broad objectives:
- Expand the discussion of costs borne by stakeholders and agencies associated with specific program elements that were identified as being of primary interest by the Council,
- Describe tradeoffs associated with possible management changes. In addition to potential cost savings, such tradeoffs may describe potential impacts to data quality and uncertainty, enforceability of regulations, harvest and sustainability of fish stocks, and other potential direct or indirect effects.
- Organize and present the information to inform any potential future amendments that may consider modifications to the program elements.
The final Phase 2 report was completed in September 2024.