Quota and catch concentration in fisheries under the ITQ system: Insights from bluefin tuna in the Strait of Gibraltar

IF 3.7 2区社会学 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Marine Policy Pub Date : 2025-09-05 DOI:10.1016/j.marpol.2025.106897

Manuel Acosta, Mª del Mar Cerbán, Daniel Coronado, Esther Ferrándiz

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) system is widely regarded as an effective policy tool to regulate fishing, to maintain the economic level, and to promote the sustainability of resources. However, its implementation can influence the distribution of quotas, potentially leading to changes in the economic structure of the sector, which raises concerns about the future of small-scale vessels. This study evaluates the impact of ITQs on bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) in the Ports of the Strait of Gibraltar, where ITQs have been applied since 2008. To analyze these effects, we use Lorenz curves and Gini indices to examine the evolution of catches and income. The results reveal that the application of ITQs has reinforced the concentration of economic activity in these ports. Based on these findings, we propose a new ITQ distribution to ensure the economic viability of small-scale vessels and to address the concentration caused by the current ITQ system. Our redistribution proposal focuses on reallocating quotas to vessels that no longer catch bluefin tuna as bycatch and those that currently have low allocations. This paper provides insights into the economic consequences of rigid quota allocation systems that may be relevant to fisheries facing similar challenges worldwide.

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ITQ制度下渔业的配额和捕捞集中：来自直布罗陀海峡蓝鳍金枪鱼的见解

个人可转让配额制度被广泛认为是管制捕鱼、维持经济水平和促进资源可持续性的有效政策工具。然而，它的实施可能影响配额的分配，可能导致该部门经济结构的变化，这引起了对小型船舶未来的担忧。本研究评估了itq对直布罗陀海峡港口蓝鳍金枪鱼（Thunnus thynnus）的影响，该地区自2008年以来一直实施itq。为了分析这些影响，我们使用洛伦兹曲线和基尼指数来考察捕捞量和收入的演变。结果表明，创新技术园区的应用增强了这些港口经济活动的集中度。基于这些发现，我们提出了一种新的ITQ分布，以确保小型船舶的经济可行性，并解决当前ITQ系统造成的集中问题。我们的重新分配建议侧重于将配额重新分配给不再捕捞蓝鳍金枪鱼作为副渔获物和目前配额较低的船只。本文提供了关于刚性配额分配制度的经济后果的见解，这可能与世界范围内面临类似挑战的渔业有关。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Marine Policy Multiple-

CiteScore

7.60

自引率

13.20%

发文量

428

期刊介绍： Marine Policy is the leading journal of ocean policy studies. It offers researchers, analysts and policy makers a unique combination of analyses in the principal social science disciplines relevant to the formulation of marine policy. Major articles are contributed by specialists in marine affairs, including marine economists and marine resource managers, political scientists, marine scientists, international lawyers, geographers and anthropologists. Drawing on their expertise and research, the journal covers: international, regional and national marine policies; institutional arrangements for the management and regulation of marine activities, including fisheries and shipping; conflict resolution; marine pollution and environment; conservation and use of marine resources. Regular features of Marine Policy include research reports, conference reports and reports on current developments to keep readers up-to-date with the latest developments and research in ocean affairs.