Closing the Commons traces the development of limited access in fisheries back to the 1930s when a licensing system was established for trawlers operating in No... » 

Closing the Commons traces the development of limited access in fisheries back to the 1930s when a licensing system was established for trawlers operating in Norwegian waters. The process is followed through the closing of the offshore fleets in the 1970s and the coastal fleet in the 1990s. As per 2005 more than 90 of all Norwegian fisheries are closed through various license systems and rights of participation. This process is not the result of any grand design but the gradual development through 70 years of fisheries policy where the present end result is rapidly approaching a system based on Individual Transferable Quotas ITQs well known from Iceland and New Zealand among others. The book describes and analyses the process including also related sectors such as aboriginal fisheries by the Saami recreational fisheries and aquaculture. The author also demonstrates to what extent there still is freedom of choice regarding future policies including also the issue of resource tax so as to create a more legitimate management regime. The book is the first attempt of giving a coherent presentation of the entire closing process for an English speaking audience and is based on a large number of Norwegian research contributions. Professor Bjrn Hersoug has been the rector of The Norwegian College of Fishery Science University of Troms Norway and has been involved with fisheries management in Norway as well as in other countries for nearly 30 years both practically and academically. Hersoug has previously published Unfinished business. New Zealands experience with rightsbased fisheries management 2002 Fishing in a sea of sharks. Reconstruction and development in the South African fishing industry 2002 and Fisheries development. The institutional challenge 2004 together with Svein Jentoft and Poul Degnbol all on Eburon. «