ABSTRACT
Discussion of the need for economic rationalization has led to increasing interest in alternative strategies to control fishing effort in efficient ways. Three basic alternatives are considered: taxation, control of fishing inputs, and direct limitation of output through individual fisherman quotas. Economic rationalization of fisheries will usually be constrained by conflicts with other social objectives. Most programs aimed at reducing redundant inputs in the fishery affect income distribution in rather different ways than those with which economists have usually been concerned. A more important issue is raised by the choice of a base for comparison of distribution impacts. One of the more perplexing aspects of both efficiency and distribution effects of a rationalization program is the treatment of part-time participants. Individual quotas would allow a much greater degree of entrepreneural freedom to the individual fisherman. The individual quota, freely transferable, will act as a rationalizing device on a brute force basis.
