The Obama administration proposed a national fisheries policy today that promotes the use of new cap-and-trade management schemes for federal fisheries.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's proposal (pdf) encourages regional fishery managers to use "catch shares" in a bid to end overfishing and restore depleted stocks. The plan calls for establishing a support system and laying out federal guidance to expedite efforts by fishery management councils that want to switch to the new management systems.
"Catch shares may not be the best management option for every fishery or sector," the proposal says. "NOAA will not require the use of catch shares in any particular fishery or sector, but it will promote and encourage the careful consideration of catch shares as a means to achieve the conservation, social and economic goals of sustainable fishery management."