The emerging organization of fisheries in the United States

The last several decades have been characterized by widespread and growing interest in ocean politics. As coastal nations have extended their jurisdictions over ocean resources and territories, the world's fisheries have emerged as a prominent topic of international debate, scientific study, management control, and public concern. During this period of change, commercial fishing has undergone a transformation. This paper explores the way fishing in the United States is changing. We argue that there are familiar social processes underlying recent changes in commercial fishing that lead toward increasing organization of all forms of fishing activities. In brief, commercial fisheries are becoming routinized and subject to administrative rationality. As such, fisheries are less unique as workplaces and cultures than in the past.