Title: Fisheries Co-management in Inhassoro: A license limitation programme

The Inhassoro region has over-exploited the fisheries resource in inshore waters while the offshore fisheries are under-exploited. In order to alleviate the excess fishing effort inshore and taking into account the property rights regime on fishery, this paper proposes a License Limitation Programme such as licensed access. Such a programme is based on an existing production structure, which shows indications of a excessive number of fishing units in the inshore fisheries, represented by less share catch and their fishing conditions are very poor. The standard of living of the fishing communities that the 1996 Fishery Policy establishes for improvement will not be achieved with current characteristics of these fisheries. An improvement of the income directly from fishing will pass necessarily by definition of the property rights of exploitation of the resource. This paper suggests a gradual reduction of beach seines and increasing number of fishing units, which operate handlines (traditional fishing methods) in offshore waters in the region. A financial analysis of the operation of such fishing units has been carried out and there is evidence of an increase in individual income from fishing. A fisheries co-management system is suggested for implementation of the programme while the public management agencies will provide the scientific information and other relevant studies. The proposed studies include, among others, upgraded socio-economic surveys, marketing and processing, boat building feasibility and biological studies/stock assessment.