Seafood auctions, market equity and the buying and selling of fish: lessons on co-management from New England and the Spanish Mediterranean

Similarities and differences among seafood buying and selling practices in New England and Mediterranean Spain and the conditions that influence market equity in seafood auctions are examined. Four New England seafood auctions, seven Mediterranean auctions and the role of the central market, Mercabarna, are studied. New England and Spanish Mediterranean fishing communities each reflect emerging systems of checks and balances where local and traditional marketing strategies have been impacted by political and technological change. Results indicate that auction conditions, such as the display of seafood and the visibility of the bidding process, can orchestrate market power distribution as well as impact independent buyer information. Technological change, especially through the use of computers and communication services, also influences market equity. Implications for co-management and government involvement in seafood auctions and markets are also discussed.