1. Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Lobster Hui Ralph Townsend, Sam Pooley, and Raymond Clarke Workshop on Fisheries Co-ops and Beyond Anchorage, Alaska June 23-24, 2003

2. NWHI Lobster Fishery Spiny and slipper lobsters Max. landings 2.3 million pounds in 1985 16 vessels max. (in 1985) 1998 prices: $5.55 for Spiny, $3.94 for slipper 4-6 week trips Mostly Alaskan crab, Hawaii longline boats

4. NWHI Lobster Management Fishery began in 1976 Western Pacific Council mgt. since 1983 1991 Amendment 7 –Quota, sum of spiny + slipper (resource decline in late 1980s due to climatic change) –Limited entry to 15 vessels (12 owners). Probably 5- 10 vessels optimal. –July 1-December 31 season (or when quota exhausted

5. Administrative Issues December 1992 “window” opening “Use-it-or-lose-it” clause in Amend. 7 1994 in-season quota adjusted from 200,000 to 20,900 after 130,000 caught

6. Stalled Management By 1997, 21-day derby fishery MSFCMA ITQ moratorium (several wanted IQ/ITQ) Ban on consolidation in Amend. 7 (active sales; indirect consolidation) MSFCMA fee provisions blocked buy-out

7. The “Hui” 1998, 14 of 15 boats entered agreement 4 boats to fish, to target live for higher prices 25% of quota to each vessel; 25% at Necker to each vessel 20% to compensate other 10 vessels 1 share for bare permit; 6 shares for permit with vessel and gear $5000 payout to permit; $30,000 to permit and vessel Negotiated in “hours”

8. Agreement not renewed 15 th permit transferred to new entrant Low prices, in part due to Asian crisis Loss of vessel and catch at Kure

9. After the Hui 1999 derby with 6 vessels 2000 closed due to quota-setting issues (industry concurred) Clinton marine reserve declaration would have capped landings at 2000 level (!) 2001-present. Closed, officially due to uncertainty over quota. Some talk of permit buy-out. Native Hawaiian rights issue in background

10. Lessons Low cost to negotiate and enforce Higher prices important Hold-out a problem Knew about Pacific whiting co-op Is even 12 (really 8-10?) too large to hold voluntary group together?