41 research outputs found
A case study in successful management of a data-poor fishery using simple decision rules: the Queensland spanner crab fishery
The Queensland spanner crab Ranina ranina is the target of a relatively data-poor, low-value fishery that has been managed for the last decade by using total allowable catches (TACs) in an individual transferable quota system. Despite the fact that this management system is usually applied to data-rich fisheries, it has been successfully used on this data-poor fishery. The key factor has been the use of harvest strategies that consisted only of simple decision rules that were appropriate given the size of the fishery and knowledge of the resource. These strategies were tested in a management strategy evaluation framework; however, it was not traditional in that (1) the operating model (or “true” resource to be managed) was not conditioned to data but rather was set to parameter ranges seen as appropriate for the resource and (2) the TAC was not set by using a stock assessment model, so the magnitude of the stock biomass was unknown. The important test was whether one could develop harvest strategies that were robust to this large uncertainty in knowledge by using only commercial catch rates. The management system had to be adaptive over time as more was learned about the biology of the species and how the harvest strategies affected the management of the fishery. This meant that the TAC was almost always set using the harvest strategies, but modifications to the decision rules were made on several occasions as more was learned about the fishery. The transparency and simplicity of the rules mean that the industry was empowered to make significant contributions to fine tuning the harvest strategies. As a result, the process does not rely solely on scientific advances but on the pooled knowledge of scientists, industry, and managers in a cooperative environment
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Impacts of Vessel Capacity Reduction Programs on Efficiency in Fisheries: the Case of Australia's Multispecies Northern Prawn Fishery
Capacity reduction programs in the form of buybacks or decommissioning programs have had relatively widespread application in fisheries in the US, Europe and Australia. A common criticism of such programs is that they remove the least efficient vessels first, resulting in an increase in average efficiency of the remaining fleet. The effective fishing power of the fleet, therefore, does not decrease in proportion to the number of vessels removed. Further, reduced crowding may increase efficiency of the remaining vessels. In this paper, the effects of a buyback program on average technical efficiency in Australia’s Northern Prawn Fishery are examined using a multi-output distance function approach with an explicit inefficiency model. The results indicate that average efficiency of the remaining vessels was greater than that of the removed vessels, and that average efficiency of remaining vessels also increased as a result of reduced crowding.Keywords: Fishing Capacity and Buyback Programs, Fisheries Economics, Fish and Aquaculture Sectors Developmen
Practical steps toward integrating economic, social and institutional elements in fisheries policy and management
While international agreements and legislation call for incorporation of four pillars of sustainability, the social (including cultural), economic and institutional aspects (the ‘human dimension’) have been relatively neglected to date. Three key impediments have been identified: a relative lack of explicit social, economic and institutional objectives; a general lack of process (frameworks, governance) for routine integration of all four pillars of sustainability; and a bias towards biological considerations. Practical integration requires a ‘systems’ approach with explicit consideration of strategic and operational aspects of management; multidisciplinary or transdisciplinary evaluations; practical objectives for the four pillars of sustainability; appropriate participation; and a governance system that is able to integrate these diverse considerations in management. We challenge all involved in fisheries to immediately take five practical steps toward integrating ecological, economic, social and institutional aspects: (1) Adopt the perspective of the fishery as a ‘system’ with interacting natural, human and management elements; (2) Be aware of both strategic and operational aspects of fisheries assessment and management; (3) Articulate overarching objectives that incorporate all four pillars of sustainability; (4) Encourage appropriate (and diverse) disciplinary participation in all aspects of research, evaluation and management; and (5) Encourage development of (or emulate) participatory governance
The first large-scale fishery-independent survey of the saucer scallop, Amusium japonicum balloti in Queensland, Australia
The saucer scallop. Amusium japonicum balloti, is a valuable component of a multispecies trawl fishery off the Queensland east coast. In recent years, a decline in catch rates resulted in the closure of small areas within the fishing grounds (preservation zones) and the allocation of funding fur a large-scale fishery-independent survey. The first survey based on a stratified random survey design is reported in this paper. The survey found relatively low densities within the strata as compared with similar species in other parts of Australia and elsewhere in the world. The position of two of the three preservation zones was extremely appropriate, because together they contained 20% of the over-all numbers caught in the whole survey. The highest densities in the remaining fishing ground occurred in the inshore north and central strata. The southern sites were characterized by a high proportion of very low or zero density sites. If a previously published gear efficiency parameter on this species and gear is used, then absolute adult abundance values are within the same order of magnitude as the commercial catch, and fishing pressure may be high. The application of this measure of gear efficiency to calculate absolute adult abundance estimates is discussed. Four methods of estimating confidence intervals are discussed. The survey was extremely successful in terms of coverage of the major scallop grounds and production of density estimates with low coefficients of variation
From input to output controls in a short-lived species: the case of Australia's Northern Prawn Fishery
Optimal vessel size and output in the Australian northern prawn fishery: a restricted profit function approach
Individual transferable quotas (ITQs) are to be introduced into Australia’s Northern
Prawn fishery in the near future. Total allowable catches (TACs) are to be set with the
objective of maximising economic efficiency in the fishery. Under ITQs, vessel owners
have the ability to adjust their fishing activities to maximise profits and changes in fleet
structure resulting from management changes need to be considered when determining
TACs. A restricted profit function for the fishery was estimated to determine the optimal
vessel characteristics and output levels as a guide to how the fleet may adjust
under an ITQ system. Vessels were found to be currently close to their optimal size
given average historic prices and current stock conditions. However, higher tiger
prawn stocks are expected to result in the average size of vessels increasing, with rising
fuel prices also likely to result in capital being substituted for fishing days. Optimal
average vessel-level catches of the main species are lower than current average vessel
catches for a wide range of input and output prices. These changes in vessel characteristics
and behaviour need to be incorporated in the derivation of the optimal TACs if
economic efficiency objectives are to be achieved
Satisfaction with fishing and the desire to leave
Predicting who may leave a fishery is an important consideration when designing capacity reduction programs to enhance both ecological and economic sustainability. In this paper, the relationship between satisfaction and the desire to exit a fishery is examined for the Queensland East Coast Trawl fishery. Income from fishing, and changes in income over the last 5 years, were key factors affecting overall satisfaction. Relative income per se was not a significant factor, counter to most satisfaction studies. Continuing a family tradition of fishing and, for one group, pride in being a fisher was found to be significant. Satisfaction with fishing overall and the challenge of fishing were found to be the primary drivers of the desire to stay or leave the fishery. Surprisingly, public perceptions of fishing, trust in management and perceptions
of equity in resource allocation did not significantly affect overall satisfaction or the desire to exit the fishery
Satisfaction with fishing and the desire to leave
Predicting who may leave a fishery is an important consideration when designing capacity reduction programs to enhance both ecological and economic sustainability. In this paper, the relationship between satisfaction and the desire to exit a fishery is examined for the Queensland East Coast Trawl fishery. Income from fishing, and changes in income over the last 5 years, were key factors affecting overall satisfaction. Relative income per se was not a significant factor, counter to most satisfaction studies. Continuing a family tradition of fishing and, for one group, pride in being a fisher was found to be significant. Satisfaction with fishing overall and the challenge of fishing were found to be the primary drivers of the desire to stay or leave the fishery. Surprisingly, public perceptions of fishing, trust in management and perceptions
of equity in resource allocation did not significantly affect overall satisfaction or the desire to exit the fishery