Self-Management Functions of Fisheries Associations

Due to the reform and opening-up policy, fishing villages transformed into a mode of individual production and operation, which not only encouraged fishermen´s working initiative but also contributed to the economic transformation from government-orientation to marketing-orientation. However, in contrast to the previous collective one, the new mode is more difficult in management because individual economic interests have no longer been related to each other. Hence, relying on the government solely for direct management in the fishing sectors will be of great difficulty. In addition, fishermen´s different quality also hinders the implementation of the national policy on fisheries management. Therefore, the liquidity in the fish resources and ambiguity in property rights characterized by this special industry are to make fishery associations play a good self-management role and self-management by fishermen can be the best implementation approach of administration.