Principles for Fisheries Management in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction - the Essential Role of Incentive-Based Approaches

Fisheries that intersect with the high seas, or
areas beyond national jurisdictions (ABNJ),
are ecologically, institutionally, and politically
complex. These fisheries also generate enormous
economic and social benefits, and have the
potential to generate even greater benefits and
wealth under improved management regimes
that incorporate incentives.
Governance gaps within international instruments
for ABNJ fisheries are well recognized. However,
reform through a global process is slow and
highly contingent upon political will. While the
need for incentives is critical to make up for the
gaps in governance, the gaps themselves and the
multilateral nature of ABNJ fisheries management
make it impossible to achieve first best solutions.
Thus, a new theory of change for ABNJ fisheries is
needed that mixes State regulation and economic
incentives in a way that achieves “smart,”
sustainable, and equitable management.
Drawing on the vast multidisciplinary literature
and insights from the Common Oceans Global
Think Tank on ABNJ fisheries, this publication
presents nine principles for utilizing “smart
mixes” of regulatory and incentive-based tools
(instruments). The following nine principles for
smart instrument mixes are explained further in
the publication, bolstered by examples and case
studies:
1. Ensure compatible instrument combinations
2. Calibrate interventions towards points of least
resistance, lowest cost, and maximum impact
3. Sequence or scale interventions as necessary
to achieve goals
4. Empower participants to act as surrogate
regulators and enable voluntary initiatives
5. Maximize opportunities for net gain outcomes
6. Consider and harness the responsiveness of
stakeholders (bottom-up matters)
7. Consider top-down relationships,
opportunities, and constraints
8. Monitor and adapt the smart mix in light of its
effectiveness
9. Assess performance and adoption of better
interventions
ABNJ fisheries are broad in scope and scale, and
are composed of heterogeneous States and
fishers with varied incomes and motivations.
The result is that risks, expected costs, speed
of transformation, scale of investments, and
returns from these fisheries are highly variable.
Thus, the nine principles should not be viewed
as prescriptive. Instead, the principles provide
guidelines for managers and policy makers
to reflect on existing management, and steer
stakeholders through an adaptive process to
effect change. The biggest takeaway is that there
is no single solution or path. Instead, these
principles indicate solid directions to proceed,
tempered by general conditions found across
case studies presented here and in the wider OPP
body of knowledge.