In the last decades Nordic countries have been implementing quota markets and similar instruments to manage mainly the economic performance of their fisheries. Coming from a historical situation dominated by owner-operated fishing units closely connected to their supporting communities, market-based fisheries manage-ment plays a role in promoting company-organised fishing units, non-fisher owner-ship and new social relations. Introducing market-mechanisms to distribute the lim-ited marine resources is therefore not just a change in the technical regulation. It is an active engagement in social change. The publication reviews the Nordic experiences with market-based fisheries management and discusses the implications for managers and future recruitment.

This book identifies possible transition paths to responsible fisheries, assesses their consequences and provides policy recommendations on how to enhance prosperity in this sector.

Available online: https://pub.norden.org/temanord2022-515/ This work maps out the pay systems used in the fisheries' sectors of Denmark, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland and Norway. Based on pay information, the evolution of pay and the distribution of resource rents among participating groups are analysed. The main findings suggest that Nordic commercial fishers are well paid compared to other occupations. As more efficient fisheries management regimes are introduced fishers remaining in the sector have been able to substantially increase their salaries. Likewise, as fisheries management have evolved so has the rents captured by fishers, vessel owners, quota owners and the public. Calculations show that the introduction of ITQ like management systems have contributed substantially to societal welfare across the Nordic countries.

Fishers are often perceived to be poor, and low income levels are used to justify subsidies and other types of direct and indirect income support to maintain coastal communities. In this study we investigate fishers’ income levels in four Nordic countries; Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden for different types of fishers and vessels and in comparison to alternative occupations. The most important result is that fishers in these countries are doing relatively well, and only in Sweden is the fishers’ average income level below the average national income. Within the fleets, there are substantial differences. Owners of coastal vessels tend to have the lowest income, and also lower than crews. Owners as well as crews on larger vessels tend to do much better and in the largest fishing nations, Iceland and Norway, very well.

Nordic fisheries at a crossroad explores how Nordic small-scale fisheries can develop to promote high value creation and product specialization. By looking at recent developments among small-scale but land-based food producers we suggest specialization and dedication as the main development strategies. The central notion is to break away from the price-competitive globalised fish markets and develop new products or distribution models. To succeed in this, there is a need for substantive and coordinated efforts to bridge the gap between conventional logics and the new development logics, between supply and demand. The vision should be to develop viable and composite markets for high quality and specialty fish products through dedication and specialization. Markets that go beyond the local and reach supermarkets and consumers on a national and international scale.

If the fishing industry is to survive in the long term, more responsible practices and approaches need to be adopted. This involves not only the industry’s own practices, but also public sector policies and in particular fisheries management ...