The Inclusion of Stocks in Multi-species Fisheries: The Case of Danish Seiners

Efficiency analysis in fisheries has become an area of increased research. However, setting up models to perform such analyses is complicated and several important modeling issues, including choice of inputs and outputs, level of aggregation and inclusion of stock indices, have only briefly been addressed in the literature. The latter issue is addressed in this paper, using data on Danish seiners and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to estimate efficiency. Production in fisheries is obviously dependent on the fish stocks, and comparing vessel efficiency, therefore, needs to account for stock developments. Three methods to include fish stocks are analyzed. It is shown that estimations based on the Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) stock measure differ from the estimations based on independent stock measures, and are independent of the choice of time horizon and choice of input/output measures.Data Envelopment Analysis, fish stock, multi-species fisheries, technical efficiency, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, Q22,

Annotated bibliography on the economic effects of global climate change on fisheries

Fisheries, Bibliography, Climatic changes

Assessing the Consequences of Natural Disasters on Production Networks: A Disaggregated Approach

This article proposes a framework to investigate the consequences of natural disasters. This framework is based on the disaggregation of Input-Output tables at the business level, through the representation of the regional economy as a network of production units. This framework accounts for (i) limits in business production capacity; (ii) forward propagations through input shortages; and (iii) backward propagations through decreases in demand. Adaptive behaviors are included, with the possibility for businesses to replace failed suppliers, entailing changes in the network structure. This framework suggests that disaster costs depend on the heterogeneity of losses and on the structure of the affected economic network. The model reproduces economic collapse, suggesting that it may help understand the difference between limited-consequence disasters and disasters leading to systemic failure.Natural disasters, Economic impacts, Economic Network

Report of the Working Group on Commercial Catches (WGCATCH)

The Working Group on Commercial Catches (WGCATCH), chaired by Hans Gerritsen (Ireland) and Nuno Prista (Sweden), met in Lisbon, Portugal, 9–13 November 2015. WGCATCH is responsible for documenting national fishery sampling schemes, establishing best practice and guidelines on sampling and estimation procedures, and providing advice on other uses of fishery data. The meeting was attended by 30 participants from 15 countries. The group addressed a large number of terms of reference and the meeting was con-ducted through presentations, discussions and analysis of questionnaires. The main terms of reference were addressed in subgroups. The report is structured directly along the terms of reference and the main outcomes are listed below. Data collection schemes for small-scale fisheries WGCATCH provided descriptions of national small-scale fisheries through question-naires. An overview was obtained on the current data collection methods. Two major approaches were identified - census (e.g., sales, logbooks) and sampling methods (e.g., catch surveys) - and their main pros and cons were discussed. In most cases, specific sampling approaches are needed for these fisheries. The group developed a work plan to establish good-practice guidelines. Analysis of case studies of commercial fishery sampling designs and estimation Case studies of sampling designs and estimation involving megrim in divisions 7-8 were presented. A common theme is that issues with practical implementation of prob-ability-based sampling remain. WGCATCH summarized the main issues and provided a set of possible solutions. The group also provided guidance on dealing with previous data collected under métier-based sampling designs. Simulation models to investigate survey designs Several simulation studies were presented, most of them outlining the work of fishPi project (funded under MARE/2014/19) in evaluating regional sampling designs. A crit-ical review was carried out and WGCATCH produced general considerations and guidelines. WGCATCH recommends that these are taken into account when analysing the results of simulations of regional sampling design at RCM level. The affect of the landing obligation on catch sampling opportunities The affects on sampling and data quality of the current implementation of the landing obligation in the Baltic were reviewed. The group found that refusal rates for observer trips have increased to nearly 100% in at least one country, while in many other coun-tries on-board observer programmes did not suffer noticeable changes. WGCATCH established that the catches below the minimum size cannot be accurately estimated by sampling the landings below the minimum size because an unknown proportion of the catches may be discarded. The group also reiterated that it is important that the logbooks distinguish landings below and above the minimum size. Publication on statistically sound sampling schemes WGCATCH drafted detailed plans to produce a peer-reviewed paper in 2016. The pa-per will provide a synthesis of the evolution of sampling design towards best practice, illustrated with a number of concise case studies. Estimation procedures in the Regional Database (RDB) The work of WKRDB 2015 presented alongside existing and planned estimation pro-cedures in the RDB. Current work by Norway on a software package that will allow design-based estimation and optimization for stock assessment purposes was also pre-sented. The advantages of ensuring compatibility of this new software with the devel-opments currently planned for RDB-FishFrame are underscored. Repository of resources relevant to catch sampling WGCATCH initiated a repository with key resources; putting them into context with brief descriptions or review of each report, paper, book, website, software package etc. The intention is for this repository to be made available online by ICES. Sampling of incidental bycatches WGCATCH agreed to start routine documentation of sampling practices for bycatches of protected, endangered and threatened species (PETS) and rare fish species as well as routine evaluation of the limitations of current methods for collection and analysis. Training course on Design and Analysis of Statistical Sound catch sampling pro-grammes WGCATCH considered continuous training and expertise on sampling design, estima-tion and simulation to be the basis for successful implementation of statistical sound catch sampling programs. A new ICES Training Course in Design and Analysis of Sta-tistical Sound will take place at ICES HQ in Copenhagen, 12–16 September 2016. WGCATCH recommends that RCMs promote the attendance of these meetings among all MS involved

Combinatorial optimisation of a large, constrained simulation model: an application of compressed annealing

Simulation models are valuable tools in the analysis of complex, highly constrained economic systems unsuitable for solution by mathematical programming. However, model size may hamper the efforts of practitioners to efficiently identify the most valuable configurations. This paper investigates the efficacy of a new metaheuristic procedure, compressed annealing, for the solution of large, constrained systems. This algorithm is used to investigate the value of incorporating a sown annual pasture, French serradella (Ornithopus sativa Brot. cv. Cadiz), between extended cropping sequences in the central wheat belt of Western Australia. Compressed annealing is shown to be a reliable means of considering constraints in complex optimisation problems in agricultural economics. It is also highlighted that the value of serradella to dryland crop rotations increases with the initial weed burden and the profitability of livestock production.combinatorial optimisation, crop rotation, simulated annealing, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods, C63, Q15,

On the Problem of the Island of Earth: Introducing a Universal Theory of Value in an Open Letter to The President of the United States

This paper introduces a unified theory of value.theory of value; evolutionary stable solution; economic power; military power; national security; global threat mitigation; extinction; human evolution; ideological environmentalism; the problem of induction; karl popper; F.A. von Hayek; austrian economics

Stated Preference Methods and Models: Analyzing Recreational Angling in New England Groundfisheries

Policy analysis of nonmarket goods requires accurate knowledge about the behavior of economic agents. This dissertation explores several facets of behavior models in recreational angling for three New England groundfish species. Stated preference methods are used frequently for nonmarket applications because data are scarce, but survey design can affect the results of behavior models via changes in respondents' cognitive processes. Methodological biases due to task complexity, measured by survey length, number of alternatives, and the degree of information overlap are observed in discrete choice experiment questionnaires, evidenced by differences in estimated model parameters and error variances. Additionally, ignoring task complexity increases mean marginal willingness-to-pay estimates. Information processing and decision heuristics should be considered in survey design and accounted for in estimated models. Empirical specifications for utility models of recreational angling are also explored because numerous variants are employed in analyzing stated preference data. Inclusion of responses from different survey subpopulations affect estimated utility function parameters and mean marginal willingness-to-pay values. Utility models that are nonlinear in catch are as statistically robust as their linear counterparts but allow for diminishing marginal utility in fish, which is more consistent with recreational angling behavior. Failure to account for sources of heterogeneity such as angler avidity, species familiarity, and demographic information affect behavioral interpretations considerably. Recreational fisheries are commonly managed using bag (creel) and minimum size restrictions. Many surveys include regulations as attributes in choice experiments, but models of angler behavior should not contain regulatory variables explicitly because they rarely factor into angler participation decisions directly. Because catch is random, regulations affect angler decisions indirectly by changing the underlying distributions for keep and release. A framework for understanding the effect of regulations on angler behavior given the stochastic nature of catch is developed. Short-run and long-run fishery implications are evaluated using a bioeconomic simulation