The economics of proximities is relevant in inter-organizational collaboration between stakeholders. Geographical and organizational proximities are the more frequent dimensions used in the literature. Face-to-face interactions (questionnaires, focus groups, informal discussions) are facilitated with low geographical distances and/or high organisational proximitiy. Each Western Waters case study selected the most appropriate technique
(semi-structured interviews or focus groups, or both) for collecting qualitative information on stakeholders’ (mainly fisher-men’s representatives or fishermen) perceptions of past and
existing fisheries management measures. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were organized to examine the French Producers organizations managing the sole fishery in the Bay of Biscay. For the Irish fleets targeting the Celtic Sea Herring fishery, face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted simultaneously with choice experiment surveys. Additionally meetings of the management advisory committee were attended as a research observer. In the Basque case study, interviews were organized with local
fishermen representatives, while focus groups were organized with both local
fishermen and local scientists. Information on devolved quota management in South West England was obtained through semi-structured interviews with representatives of the two Producers’ Organisations (POs) which are responsible for the majority of
fishing vessels in the region.