The six papers presented here all point out the grave difficulties associated with the management of international fisheries. Each also provides some perspective on the potential for change in the system. Webster recommends that proponents of ecosystem-based management need to propose specific measures that may appeal to powerful fishing countries rather than broad goals that are difficult to implement. Kalfagianni and Pattberg propose that the Marine Stewardship Council could substantially improve its impact on global fisheries management by paying attention to structural effects, particularly trade barriers that may exacerbate the North–South divide. Sakaguchi similarly sees NGO involvement in fisheries regulation as a double-edged sword and warns about the potential for alienation of societies that resist the forceful imposition of new norms. In contrast, both Schiffman and Tiller show how domestic interests can shape new and future regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs) into more effective regimes. Finally, Barkin and DeSombre propose that a new, global RFMO could reduce fishing capacity around the world, thereby bursting the balloon problem.