Collective community-based rights could put the world's fisheries on a sustainable footing after decades of over-exploitation, an expert suggests.
Previous management regimes had failed to protect both the industry and fish stocks' long-term future, explained Ragnar Arnason from Iceland University.
Communities would act like "shareholders", ensuring stocks were protected and not depleted, he added.
Prof Arnason outlined his views at the ICES science conference in Iceland.
"We have a severe problem of over-exploitation of global fish stocks, with the associated damage of marine ecosystems," he told BBC News ahead of his presentation.
"There is some indication that things may have stopped declining – at least in some parts of the world.