NET BENEFITS.

FISHERY closures; FISHERY management; FISHERY co-management; INDIVIDUAL fishing quotas; ENVIRONMENTAL responsibility; SUSTAINABLE fisheries

This article discusses efforts to limit the catch of fish taken in the fisheries off of the coast of Alaska. The unintended economic consequences of short commercial fishing seasons for halibut are described. The establishment of individual fishing quotas, which assign the right to take a certain amount of fish to an individual fisherman, is proposed as an alternative that would create incentives for sustainability in that industry. The possibility that inconsistencies in government oversight of fisheries can undermine the incentives for conservation built into this plan is considered. Issues relating to the allocation of the right to fish are also considered. INSET: For Maori, "Fishing" Is an Inadequate Word.