Date of Award

2010

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Alcock, Frank

Keywords

Fisheries, Regional Fisheries Management Organizations, International, Unilateralism

Area of Concentration

Political Science

Abstract

As the governing bodies of international fisheries, Regional Fisheries Management Organizations have largely failed to protect key stocks. This failure has led to unsustainable harvests that threaten the future of several key fisheries. Although many studies have focused on alleviating their inadequacy through institutional or policy changes, they have often ignored the underlying problem: cooperation among member states. Through an examination of the key variables for cooperation as applied to international fisheries, this thesis demonstrates that attaining legitimate cooperation between member states may not be possible through multilateral governance. Because multilateral governance may not be possible, unilateral actions by key states could offer the only hope for successful management. Under specific conditions, powerful states can achieve sustainability through unilateral action. By using their leverage in the fishery, these states can promote compliance from those who may not prefer regulation. Although this dynamic may not sound equitable, it may be the only hope for preserving fish stocks.

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