The Netherlands’ resource management and conservation policy is carried out in accordance with the Common Fisheries Policy of the European Union. The legal basis is the complete set of rules and regulations as agreed by the Council of Fisheries Ministers of the EU. In addition, the Dutch Fisheries Act of 1963 provides for regulations regarding inland fisheries. The Department of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality is responsible for the formulation and implementation of policies for, among other areas, the sea fisheries, aquaculture, inland fisheries and recreational fisheries. Various management measures have been put into place to ensure equilibrium between fleet size and available resources. Some measures are of a technical nature and aimed at a capacity reduction, like decommissioning schemes, licensing systems and fishing gear measures. Another important measure aimed at reducing catches by means of quota regulations is a comanagement scheme which has now developed into an ITQ system.