Individual Transferable Quotas (ITQs) and Individual Transferable Effort (ITE) systems have been introduced to a wide range of Australian fisheries. Experience indicates that ITQs have not always delivered the anticipated outcomes, have had outcomes that were unintended and unwanted, and in some instances have resulted in outcomes that make it difficult for fisheries managers to deliver against other, in many cases non-economic, objectives of fisheries management. In some instances, these unintended and unwanted consequences may also have been inappropriately attributed to the ITQs/ITEs and may actually be a consequence of other drivers such as globalisation or changes in stock abundance.

This work aims to provide evidence-based advice to managers and the broader industry on options to address any performance gaps or unintended and unwanted consequences, and the potential adverse effects of any proposed interventions on the economic, social and environmental outcomes of ITQs as generally implemented in Australian fisheries.