Experience with prototype multicriteria decision support systems for pelagic fish quota determination

This article describes an attempt to use certain multiple-criteria decision-making aids to support the formulation of catch quota policies in pelagic fisheries management. A set of attributes was identified, as necessary to represent the decision-making goals. Potentially useful methods appeared to be STEM, interactive sequential goal programming (ISGP), and interactive multiple goal programming (IMGP). Prototype microcomputer-based systems were developed to implement each of the three approaches. Although experience with the implementation is still relatively limited, it has involved actual planners and decision makers from both the fishing industry and from the relevant state department. The evidence is that IMGP is particularly useful in this context, and that it does seem to facilitate the reaching of consensus between different interest groups.