Abstract

On January 1, 2007 the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council implemented the red snapper individual fishing quota (IFQ) program to reduce overcapacity and mitigate, to the extent possible, derby- fishing conditions. The program also sought to increase market stability, eliminate fishing seasons, increase flexibility for fishing operations, facilitate enforcement, improve safety at sea, and enhance the net social, economic, and biological benefits from fishery. This paper discusses the findings of a mail survey used to investigate fishermen’s attitudes and perceptions to-wards the program to assist in the Council mandated five year review of the IFQ program. The study found that participants with large shareholdings tended to be very satisfied with the IFQ program, whereas those with small share-holdings were the least satisfied with the program. About 65% of respondents stated that they did not make any major capital investments or dis-investments since the onset of the program. The study also found that the industry believed that the IFQ program had reduced derby-fishing conditions. Additionally, medium and large shareholders, as well as west-ern Gulf shareholders, agreed that the IFQ program had increased harvesting flexibility and decreased crowding on fishing grounds.

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