Why do fisheries management institutions circumvent precautionary guidelines?

Area of Science:

• Fisheries Management
• Precautionary Approach
• Resource Allocation

Background:

• The precautionary approach is key for sustainable fisheries management.
• However, management institutions frequently allocate commercial fishing quotas that contradict established precautionary guidelines.
• This study examines why these guidelines are circumvented.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the reasons behind fisheries management institutions circumventing precautionary guidelines.
• To analyze the case of Fisheries and Oceans Canada's (DFO) northern cod (Gadus morhua) quota allocation while the stock is in the critical zone.

Main Methods:

• Case study analysis of DFO's northern cod quota allocation.
• Examination of stakeholder and rightsholder interpretations of the precautionary approach.
• Analysis of data inputs, risk metrics, and epistemological foundations used in decision-making.

Main Results:

• Three core tensions were identified: disagreement on data accuracy, differing risk assessment metrics, and competing epistemological foundations for the precautionary approach.
• Differing interpretations of precaution and the design of the precautionary approach explain deviations from guidelines.
• Decisions to allocate quota against guidelines are influenced by reframing risk assessment by stakeholders and rightsholders.

Conclusions:

• Interpretations of precaution and the design of the precautionary approach are central to why resource allocation decisions deviate from guidelines.
• Stakeholder and rightsholder reframing of risk associated with resource exploitation explains decisions that contradict precautionary guidelines.