Abstract: There is empirical and theoretical evidence indicating that quota-induced highgrading is aproblem in weight-based ITQ programs. This paper examines value-based ITQ programs as apossible solution to this problem. It is shown that value-based ITQ programs do not provide anincentive to highgrade, and may achieve a target harvest with greater accuracy than weight-basedITQ programs. Two ways of administering value-based ITQ programs are suggested. Though both are arguably more difficult to administer than a weight-based ITQ program, a value-based ITQ program may be less complicated than a weight-based ITQ program coupled with the sorts of taxes, landings restrictions, or multiple quotas, that have been proposed as remedies for quota-induced highgrading.
Keywords: Fisheries regulation, tradable quota, value based quota
JEL Classification: Q22;K32