Reported Trip Costs, Gross Revenues, and Net Returns for U.S. Atlantic Pelagic Longline Vessels

Logbook set and trip summary data (containing catch and cost information, respectively) collected by NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) were analyzed for U.S. pelagic longline vessels that participated in Atlantic fisheries in 1996. These data were augmented with vessel information from the U.S. Coast Guard. Mean fish weights and ex-vessel prices from NMFS observers and licensed seafood dealers, respectively, were used to estimate gross revenues. Comparisons revealed that net returns varied substantially by vessel size and fishing behavior (i.e. sets per trip, fishing location, season, and swordfish targeting). While the calculated economic effects of proposed regulations will depend on the descriptive statistic chosen for analysis, which itself depends on the type of analysis being conducted, results show that considering heterogeneity within this fleet can have a significant effect on predicted economic consequences

Journal Staff

Half of the world's forest is in boreal and sub-boreal ecozones, containing large carbon stores and fluxes. Carbon lost from headwater streams in these forests is underestimated. We apply a simple stable carbon isotope idea for quantifying the CO2 loss from these small streams; it is based only on in-stream samples and integrates over a significant distance upstream. We demonstrate that conventional methods of determining CO2 loss from streams necessarily underestimate the CO2 loss with results from two catchments. Dissolved carbon export from headwater catchments is similar to CO2 loss from stream surfaces. Most of the CO2 originating in high CO2 groundwaters has been lost before typical in-stream sampling occurs. In the Harp Lake catchment in Canada, headwater streams account for 10% of catchment net CO2 uptake. In the Krycklan catchment in Sweden, this more than doubles the CO2 loss from the catchment. Thus, even when corrected for aquatic CO2 loss measured by conventional methods, boreal and sub-boreal forest carbon budgets currently overestimate carbon sequestration on the landscape

Economic profile of Florida's marine life industry

The marine life industry in Florida is defined as the harvest of live marine specimens (fish and invertebrate species including plants, live rock and sand, and small “critters”) for commercial use, primarily aquariums. This paper summarizes data collected on the industry since 1990, including total landings, revenues, and trends over time. Regional analysis shows where the primary collecting areas are located in Florida. Seasonal analysis shows when the majority of landings occur within the year. Statistics on the number of participants by type (i.e., collector versus wholesaler) provide insight into the size of the industry. Trends are evaluated in terms of changes across the 9-year period from 1990 to 1998. In general, the number of licensed collectors has increased substantially, landings of fish and animal invertebrates peaked in 1994, angelfish dominated the fish landings, live rock dominated the invertebrate landings, and the average landings per trip have remained relatively constant. (67pp.

1999 US tropical fish wholesaler survey: results and implications

A survey of marine life wholesalers was initiated in 1999 as a first step towards understanding the nature of Florida’s marine life industry, the demand for Florida products, and the need for changes in the way the industry is regulated. Florida firms deal primarily in marine species and collect much of their own product. Wholesalers outside of Florida handle more freshwater species and purchase most of their inventory, the majority from overseas suppliers. Dealers predict that the average firm size will continue to grow as the industry consolidates. Niche markets for eco-friendly product will gain momentum. In Florida, marketing strategies should point to the high quality of Florida species with emphasis on the growing popularity of invertebrates. Wholesalers should look to provide buyers of Florida product with more consistent quantities throughout the year. Resource managers will be challenged to find ways to protect over-harvested species without interfering with the collection of abundant species while considering the effect of new regulations. (42pp.

A BIOECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES FOR THE U.S. NORTH ATLANTIC SWORDFISH FISHERY

A bioeconomic model of the North Atlantic swordfish (Xiphias gladius) fishery is developed to evaluate policy-relevant management options as changes from the status quo. The model accounts for heterogeneity in vessel and trip characteristics, including the number of sets placed and catch composition. Results indicate that five-year economic returns to the U.S. Atlantic pelagic longline (PLL) fleet can be increased by reducing juvenile swordfish mortality or fleet size (and possibly changing fleet composition). These policies may not be effective, however, if implemented simultaneously. Domestic management of the swordfish fishery was found to be effective, despite the small share of the international quota. Lastly, producer surpluses earned by the domestic PLL vessel owners are significantly affected by: (1) changes in swordfish demand (due to, for example, the recent chef's boycott), (2) success at negotiating the swordfish quota share, (3) catch rates, and (4) relative costs of heterogeneous vessels and trip behavior.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

A Double Hurdle Model of Preferences for a Proposed Capacity Reduction Program in the Atlantic Shark Fishery

The Atlantic shark fishery is considered to be overcapitalized. One approach to capacity management is the purchase and permanent retirement of fishing vessels, fishing permits, or both under voluntary buyback programs. Representatives of the commercial shark fishery have proposed such an approach to manage the overcapacity in their fishery in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic regions. This program would allow owners to submit willingness-to-accept (WTA) bids for their permits and vessels. This study uses econometric modeling to explain the potential participation and bid amounts from a survey of permit owners.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Skin Cancer Risk in Gay and Bisexual Men: A Call to Action

Editorial recommending that the significant sexual orientation health disparities among gay and bisexual men in regard to skin cancer and use of indoor tanning must be studied

POLICY IMPLICATIONS OF RESTRICTED ACCESS STRATEGIES FOR MULTISPECIES FISHERIES

The commercial fishery that primarily targets king mackerel, stone crab, snappers, groupers and spiny lobster in Monroe and Collier counties is one of the most important commercial fisheries in Florida. These species currently face problems of overfishing and/or over capitalization. A dual-based restricted profit function is used to estimate the economic and technical interactions that exist in this multi-species fishery, primarily using own-price and cross-price elasticities of supply. It is found that the production technology does not exhibit input-output separability and nonjointness-in-inputs over all species groups. This result suggests that these key species may be more efficiently managed as a group, rather than with the use of existing single species regulations. Spiny lobster and stone crab, the dominant value species in the fishery, are shown to have very elastic substitution relationships with king mackerel.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

The role of attitude, control and intention to explain fruit and vegetable intake among racial/ethnic minority women with low socioeconomic status

OBJECTIVE: Fruit and Vegetable (FV) intake-a modi able risk factor for chronic diseases-is lower among racial/ethnic minorities and low Socio- Economic Status (SES) groups when compared to other populations. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) is one theoretical model studied to explain and in uence individual health behaviors, including FV intake, in middle class populations, but not exclusively in diverse, low SES groups. This cross-sectional study evaluated the utility of select TPB variables to explain intention to consume and intake of FV in this population. DESIGN: Demographics, BMI, select TPB variables, and FV intake were measured via survey. Bivariate analyses were conducted to explore relationships between variables. Hierarchical regression analyses were used to t two models: one to explain intention and one to explain behavior with regard to FV vegetable intake. RESULTS: Participants (n=114) age 25-69 years and were mostly African American/Black and Hispanic (21.9% and 73%, respectively). The TPB variable perceived behavioral control was the only signi cant predictor of intention to consume FV (OR=2.55, 95% CI OR: 1.23, 5.27), and with BMI, FV intake (R2=0.08; F [2,130] =5.72, p=0.0042). CONCLUSION: Perceived behavioral control and BMI are the most signi cant predictors of FV intake but explain only 8% of the variability in intake in our cohort. Our results support prior research which suggests an attenuation of the intention-behavior relationship by SES, and may question the utility of the TPB as it is currently operationalized as a foundational model for future health behavior change research and programs in low SES racial/ethnic minorities

Pilot and feasibility test of an implementation intention intervention to improve fruit and vegetable intake among women with low socioeconomic status

Fruit and vegetable intake (FVI), a modifiable risk factor for chronic diseases, is lower in low socioeconomic status (SES) populations. Implementation intentions (a specific type of planning that extends the Theory of Planned Behavior) has been studied to improve FVI, but not exclusively with low SES groups. Using mixed methods, we evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of an implementation intention intervention (versus a general plan) to increase FVI in women with low SES. For the pilot randomized controlled trial, demographics, body mass index, attitude, perceived behavioral control, goal intention strength, and FVI were measured at baseline and FVI again 1-month following the intervention. Feasibility data were collected for recruitment, randomization, retention, and assessment procedures and compared to predetermined targets. Semi-structured interview data was analyzed for emergent themes regarding acceptability of the trial. Preliminary efficacy of the intervention to improve FVI was analyzed descriptively. Feasibility targets were met for randomization (100% vs. ≥80% target), retention (93.5% vs. ≥70% target) and the assessment metrics missing data points (2% vs. ≤10% target) and days from intervention to follow up (mean=69.2, sd=42.6 vs.days). Targets for recruitment were not met with the exception of participants giving informed consent (100% vs. ≥70% target). Participants described the intervention as enjoyable and reported behavioral constructs outside of those measured as important to improve FVI. Limited efficacy analysis suggested that both groups increased their FVI (experimental: +0.17 servings per day, 95% CI: -0.85, 1.20; control: +0.50 servings per day, 95% CI: -0.56, 1.58). Further research which examines interventions based upon behavior change models to improve dietary health behaviors in marginalized groups is needed