Monitoring fishing mortality: Compliance in Norwegian offshore fisheries

Sustainable management of wild fish stocks by means of catch quotas requires reliable data on fishing mortality. Norwegian authorities have attempted to ensure the reliability of this data through catch report procedures and a ban on dumping. The reliability of data on fishing mortality depends on the fishers’ compliance with these regulations. This article outlines the main factors that govern compliance and non-compliance in the Norwegian pelagic fisheries. Data was generated during fieldwork in the offshore pelagic fishing fleet.