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Alison Rieser

Bio: Alison Rieser is an academic researcher from University of Maine School of Law. The author has contributed to research in topics: Scientific evidence & Environmental impact assessment. The author has an hindex of 3, co-authored 4 publications receiving 142 citations.

Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a theory of compliance in fisheries is developed and applied to explain the trends and patterns of noncompliance in the northeast groundfish fishery in the United States, and a novel measurement technique is used to characterize the extent and patterns.
Abstract: This article focuses on measuring and explaining noncompliance in federally managed U.S. fisheries. Novel measurement techniques are used to characterize the extent and patterns of noncompliance in the northeast groundfish fishery. According to the authors’ estimates, noncompliance increased substantially in 1986 and remained high through 1988 in the groundfish fishery. On Georges Bank during 1987, a quarter to a half of all groundfish vessels were identified as frequent violators, committing closed area violations on about one‐third of their trips and using illegal mesh on nearly all trips. Illegal earnings by a typical frequent violator operating in the groundfish fishery on Georges Bank amounted to $225,000 per year in 1987. A theory of compliance in fisheries is developed and applied to explain the trends and patterns of noncompliance in the northeast groundfish fishery. Biological and economic forces are shown to be dominant causes of the recent deterioration in compliance. Other contributin...

137 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The problem arises in part because scientific uncertainty over the fate and effects of wastes released into the ocean requires a large element of judgment, and hence value, when the uncertain science is applied to policy as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Controversy among scientists over appropriate use of the ocean for waste disposal impedes U.S. policy in this area. The problem arises in part because scientific uncertainty over the fate and effects of wastes released into the ocean requires a large element of judgment, and hence value, when the uncertain science is applied to policy. Scientists often supply that judgment and so impose their values, though seldom explicitly, on policy. Further, science often determines policy because many perceive it as an objective basis for decisionmaking and so less subject to the debate that arises from weighing public preferences in policymaking. Thus, scientists' values rather than the public's come to set policy. The resulting policy may elevate one expert's values over another's. Then as values and so interpretation of science shift, policy changes. Or, as in the case now with arguments over the ocean's ability to assimilate many anthropogenic wastes, conflicting science, really conflicting values, results in an agreement and policy inertia. These problems are partially circumvented when scientists make the nonscientific factors behind their reasoning clear. These factors may then be evaluated by the public along with the supporting scientific evidence. Thus, weighing the welfare of society rather than resolving conflicts among scientists becomes the focus of policy.

5 citations

BookDOI
01 Jan 1986
TL;DR: A case study on international cooperation, and a report on the exploitation of an alternative energy source are presented in this article, based on workshops and meetings held by Canadian and US scientists working on the Bay of Fundy Tidal Power project.
Abstract: The book is based on workshops and meetings held by Canadian and US scientists working on the Bay of Fundy tidal power project. The authors believe that Tidal power is an alternative, renewable, and large-scale energy source. This study presents two basic concepts: a case study on international cooperation, and a report on the exploitation of an alternative energy source. Contents: A. Reiser: Introduction. -C. Lamson: Technology Assessment and Nova Scotian Tidal Power Projects. - J. Spiller: Scientific Issues in the Assessment of the Transboundary Effects of Fundy Tidal Power. -D. VanderZwaag, K.A. Massey: Legal Decisionmaking Frameworks for Fundy Tidal Power. -J. Spiller, J. Ranowicz: Effectiveness of Canadian and U.S. Environmental Assessment Processes in Evaluating Transboundary Impacts. -R.A. Taylor: Seeking Legal Redress for Transboundary Environmental Injury,-D. VanderZwaag, G. Beanlands, P. Duinker, K.A. Massey, A. Rieser, J. Spiller, R.A. Taylor, P. Underwood: Decisionmaking Improvements and Alternatives. -Summary of Conclusions and Recommendations. - Appendices. -Subject Index.

4 citations

Book ChapterDOI
01 Jan 1986
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue that no suggested legal or administrative changes can guarantee smooth operation of decisionmaking in practice Much depends on personal perceptions and a willingness of all parties to cooperate in reaching a resolution.
Abstract: Academics who suggest improvements or alternatives to decisionmaking frameworks operate under the shadow of a practical reality Environmental decisionmaking is a dynamic process involving complex interrelationships among public interest groups, scientists, project proponents, and government officials who advocate value positions at various decisionmaking levels — legislative and regulatory drafting, budgetary policymaking, federal permit processes, provincial or state licensing reviews, contract negotiations, and judicial proceedings Thus, no suggested legal or administrative changes can guarantee smooth operation of decisionmaking in practice Much depends on personal perceptions and a willingness of all parties to cooperate in reaching a resolution

1 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An enriched theoretical model of regulatory compliance is developed in this paper, which integrates economic theory with theories from psychology and sociology to account for both tangible and intangible motivations influencing individuals' decisions whether to comply with a given set of regulations.
Abstract: An enriched theoretical model of regulatory compliance is developed in this paper. The body of empirical evidence demonstrates that the pure deterrence model of regulatory compliance, which focuses primarily on the certainty and severity of sanctions as key determinants of compliance, provides only a partial explanation of compliance behavior. To offer a more complete explanation, the model developed herein integrates economic theory with theories from psychology and sociology to account for both tangible and intangible motivations influencing individuals’ decisions whether to comply with a given set of regulations. Specifically, the model accounts for moral obligation and social influence in addition to the conventional costs and revenues associated with illegal behavior. While cast in a natural resource management context, the theory developed here is applicable to a variety of institutional conditions. The resulting framework enables the design and implementation of more efficient compliance and regulatory programs than was heretofore possible.

493 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This paper reviewed fleet dynamics and fishermen behavior from an economic and sociological basis in developing fisheries, in mature fisheries near full exploitation, and in senescent fisheries that are over-exploited.
Abstract: We review fleet dynamics and fishermen behavior from an economic and sociological basis in developing fisheries, in mature fisheries near full exploitation, and in senescent fisheries that are over...

319 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: There is a large body of theory concerning enforcement and compliance with rules spread over several disciplines, including psychology, economics and sociology as discussed by the authors, but there has been little practical guidance for managers and conservation planners on the optimal design of enforcement programs.
Abstract: Rules governing human behaviour are at the heart of every system of natural resource management. Without compliance, however, rules are meaningless so effective enforcement is essential if conservation is to be successful. There is a large body of theory concerning enforcement and compliance with rules spread over several disciplines, including psychology, economics and sociology. However, there have been few attempts to extend this theory to conservation applications and there is little practical guidance for managers and conservation planners on the optimal design of enforcement programmes. We review approaches to understanding why individuals break rules and how optimal policy choices can reduce rule-breaking, highlighting research which has specifically dealt with natural resources. Because of the difficulty of studying rule-breaking behaviour directly, modelling approaches have been particularly important and have been used to explore behaviour at the individual, group and institutional levels. We illustrate the application of models of enforcement and compliance to conservation using the African elephant Loxodonta africana as a case study. Further work is needed to create practical tools which can be applied to the design of enforcement measures in conservation. Particular challenges include understanding the importance of violations of rationality assumptions and incorporating intertemporal choice in models of decision making. In conclusion, we argue that a new field of robust theory and practice is urgently needed to ensure that issues of enforcement and compliance do not undermine conservation initiatives.

317 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors describe an investigation into the non-monetary factors affecting compliance with output (quota) restrictions among fishermen in the United Kingdom and find that social influence, moral values, and the perceived legitimacy of regulations and the regulatory authority are important factors.
Abstract: Economic models of regulatory compliance in fisheries usually assume an instrumental determination of individual behavior in which the decision to comply or to violate depends primarily on the expected monetary costs and benefits. Policy implications tend, as a result, to focus only on deterrence, that is, increasing the expected monetary costs of violation. More complete models of compliance behavior take into account factors such a social influence, moral values, and the perceived legitimacy of regulations and the regulatory authority. The paper describes an investigation into the non-monetary factors affecting compliance with output (quota) restrictions among fishermen in the United Kingdom.

282 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present the results of a research project, which has focussed on Danish fishers' acceptance of imposed fisheries regulations and their respect for the management system, and apply the analytical framework developed by Raakjaer Nielsen.

249 citations