In the case of individual daily limits for mackerel stock, several elements have promoted non-compliant behavior from some vessel segments, following information derived from focus groups: (i) fishermen’s expert knowledge on good mackerel stock status, (ii) the high level competition between purse-seiners, trawlers, and even the artisanal fleet for the mackerel stock, (iii) the seasonal character of the fishery and, (iv) the low level first-sale prices. With the aim of achieving good results in terms of the sustainability of this fishery, a new complementary and coer- cive top-down management by the Spanish administration was