International cooperation among nation-states of the North Pacific Ocean on the problem of competition among salmon for a common pool of prey resources

A common-pool problem in the North Pacific Ocean that remains largely ignored in international policy is competition for prey resources among salmon populations (Oncorhynchus spp.) from different countries. Hatcheries release large abundances of juvenile salmon into the North Pacific and the resulting decrease in mean body size of adult wild and hatchery salmon may lead to reductions in benefits. We examine incentives and disincentives for cooperation among nation-states on this issue. We recommend that either a new international organization be created or that amendments be made to the mandate and powers of an existing organization. The resulting organization could encourage collective action to reduce competition among salmon from different nations by using side-payments to change the incentive structure, by establishing a multi-national scientific assessment team to create a common frame of reference for the problem, and by implementing policy prescriptions.