In many Third World countries fisheries are not really managed by their governments, either because there’re no rules, or if any, because they’re not enforced. Not every fishery, however, that is not managed, de-facto or de-jure, is in a bad shape. The North Atlantic fisheries, however, hardly suffer from a lack of management. If, any they are over-managed. In any case, something must’ve gone wrong with their management. If, after all those years of EU’s management, the recommendation says moratorium, and after exhausting negotiations, the resulting deal limits the groundfish fleet’s operation to 15 days/month, and reduces the quota by 45-55%, one must recognize a case of lingering mismanagement .

But, mismanagement is a parentless baby. Scientists blame political managers, managers blame the industry, the industry blames both and the environment. But fisheries management is a system comprising all the above and more. It is like an engine in which all the parts must work in a synchrony, while being fed with the right fuel, and lubricated with the right oil. It must have adequate scientific information and analysis, which must include understanding of the role of environmental factors. It needs managers that would use the above to form workable rules, acceptable to industry, and otherwise enforceable. Enough if one of those goes wrong, the whole management machinery misfires.