Management of Fisheries in the North Pacific

Abstract

Resources in the northwestern Pacific and the Bering Sea are fished intensively and the potential increase in the yield of traditional species does not appear great. In contrast, waters from the Gulf of Alaska to off Baja California are lightly fished, except for a few species, and contain large potential resources, particularly of pelagic species. Countries bordering this ocean differ greatly from each other in the concepts and methods of domestic fishery management as well as in the degree of control by government. The overwhelmingly large part of the combined total catch comes from fisheries which are at present not subject to international regulation. The international regulatory regime consists of various conventions and short-term agreements designed to solve immediate issues. No comprehensive arrangements exist and principles of management differ from case to case. Among the major management problems are: fluctuations in the yields of coastal pelagic species; rapid expansion of pollack fishing in the northern areas; lack of inclusive agreement for fisheries in the East China and Yellow Seas; management of salmon fisheries; and development of new resources particularly in the eastern Pacific.