A methodology to measure the social impact of the EU quota setting procedure.

A methodology is described to measure the short to medium term social impacts of the European Union (EU) quota setting procedure. The method utilises data that is collected nationally within the EU and so allows timely estimation of possible social impacts as a result of changes in total allowable catches that could affect national fishing fleets and fishing dependent communities. Social impacts can extend to a very broad set of characteristics such as employment, wages, health and safety, gender participation, education, traditions, ‘well-being’, etc. Here, the use of the term ‘social’ is in a narrow sense in that the indicator that is relied on is employment (including downstream effects) due to the characteristics of the indicator and its availability in terms of data collection. The methodology is described in terms of its application in Ireland and measures are suggested to enable its application at an EU level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]