"Catch shares" key to restoring growth.

• Position: Fish Populations

A road map for rebuilding stocks and restoring fishing communities is provided by the results of a study from Environmental Defense, Washington, D.C., which details how Limited Access Privilege Programs (LAPPs), or "catch shares," offer environmental, economic, and social benefits.

A team of more than 30 scientists, economists, and fishery specialists collected data on nearly 100 fisheries and analyzed over 150 peer-reviewed studies. This is largest such study since Congress lifted the moratorium on catch shares five years ago.

"Catch shares are the missing piece in the puzzle to restore our fisheries and fishing communities," maintains Fred Krupp, president of Environmental Defense. "[This data] shows how catch shares can improve the performance of fisheries at lower cost to fishermen and greater benefit to the overall ecosystem"

Catch shares work by allocating a dedicated percentage share of a fishery's total catch to individual fishermen, communities, or associations. If a fishery is well-managed, the value of these shares increases as the stock expands. When participants have a secure portion of the catch, they gain the flexibility to make business decisions that improve safety, increase profits, and promote healthy fishing stocks, according to Environmental Defense.

An analysis of fisheries in the U.S. and Canada before and after the implementation of catch shares shows:

* Bycatch--fish caught but discarded--was reduced by more than 40%, which, together with the benefits of complying with catch limits, each year saves the equivalent of the annual seafood consumption of 16,000,000 Americans.

* Revenues per boat increased by 80% due to higher yields and dockside prices.

* Safety more than doubled, based on an...