How Does Self-governance Complement ITQ under QMS in New Zealand?– A Case Study of the Self-governance Evolvement in the Foveaux Strait Oyster Fishery

This paper examines efforts to develop industry led self-governance in the Bluff Oyster Fishery. The paper focuses on participatory management and its ability to address some of the unintended consequences of management – for example high-grading. The Bluff oyster fishery’s administrative and biological performances are analysed and then used to assess whether or not the participatory management model – fisheries self-governance in this case – complements Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) for this inshore shellfish fishery. The paper argues that the fishery’s current self-governance model not only aids in improving the performance of the fishery, and that the Bluff oyster fishery has the capacity to shift towards an industry led self-regulated fishery.