Early Attempts at Establishing Exclusive Rights in the British Columbia Salmon Fishery

Abstract

Resource managers struggled to discharge their responsibilities as the British Columbia salmon fishery expanded. With limited management and regulatory capacity and facing increasing fishing effort, exclusive rights appeared to be viable management tools. Exclusive area fishing privileges and limitations on the numbers of fishermen and processing plants were used. But, despite the potential for efficient harvesting and other benefits, the exclusive rights did not last. Established to meet short-term needs, not for long-term benefits, the rights allocations were flawed and opposed by many. With little assurance of exclusivity, no secure long-term tenure, and little transferability, the rights were incomplete. (JEL Q22)