If you care about preserving not only ocean fisheries, but also the fishermen and coastal communities that depend on them, the announcement Thursday that the federal government is ramping up the use of catch-share fishing management systems is encouraging news.

If crafted correctly, the catch-share programs will end the frantic races for fish that have steadily depleted some species while forcing fishermen out to sea during brief windows when fishing is allowed regardless of ocean conditions or the prices they can get for their catches.

In catch-share programs, regulators impose a strict overall catch limit and divide that total catch among fishing entities. Fishermen can then decide when to fish and fill their individual quotas -- fishing when prices and ocean conditions are best for them.

Catch-share programs already are up and working in British Columbia, Australia and a few areas in the United States. The Pacific Fisheries Management Council, which oversees West Coast fishing, has been drawing up plans for one of the first major U.S. catch-share programs, for groundfish, the most valuable fishery off the Oregon Coast. The catch-share system for West Coast groundfish will take effect in 2011.

Yes, catch shares raise some important issues...