From the SAFMC's South Atlantic Update:
In March, the Council approved a motion to “terminate all work relative to catch share development in Amendment 21” (catch share development would continue for the golden crab fishery and wreckfish). The amendment, known as the Comprehensive Catch Share Amendment, addressed the possible use of catch share programs for snapper grouper species currently under management through quotas with the exception of snowy grouper. The amendment also included options for effort and participation reduction and endorsement actions. ...
The South Atlantic Council has explored the use of catch shares over the past few years, using work groups and soliciting public input. During discussion of the motion, Council members noted that catch share programs are considered one of many management tools and that the removal of their consideration in Amendment 21 does not preclude their future consideration. The Council will review the remaining actions in Amendment 21 during its June meeting.
Catch shares are individual (transferable) quotos, more or less. The Socioeconomic Panel of the Statisical and Scientific Committee of the SAFMC (got all that straight) reviewed the catch shares provision of Amendment 21 and made some recommendations for the potential development of such a program. None of these recommendations included "terminate all work relative to catch share development in Amendment 21." Here is what we said about golden crab catch shares:
We recommend adoption of Alternative 2 under Action 1; Implement a catch share program for the golden crab fishery. With the understanding that current permit holders favor the formation of a catch-share program, the SEP agrees that such a program will facilitate the management goals to “create incentives for conservation and regulatory compliance” and provide participants with the opportunity to earn “long-run benefits from efforts to conserve and manage the golden crab resource.” Exclusive rights to shares of the allowable catch will allow permit holders the security to take least-cost methods to harvest the catch and may encourage harvest methods that maximize quality and ex-vessel revenues. The net benefits of the program will likely be increased by increased transferability of the catch shares.
The snapper-grouper fishery is more complicated than golden crab but I think the same sentiments would apply.
