ABSTRACT
Fish are an important resource for human consumption, and play central roles in aquatic ecosystems. Governance of fishing resources on the high seas is provided by regional governance through Regional Fishery Management Organizations. Under the best of circumstances, fisheries governance is a challenge. There is often uncertainty about the health of fish stocks and the level of fishing they can sustain. States can also decline to be bound by international regulations, whether by opting out of rules or by simply remaining outside of the international regulatory system. Fisheries governance is made more difficult by subsidies that many states give to support their domestic fishing industries, thereby generating greater fishing capacity than can be supported by global fish stocks. The regulated stock may be well protected, but at the cost of increased fishing pressure elsewhere.
