On Catch Discarding in Fisheries

This paper examines the economics of catch discarding in fisheries. To study this issue a simple dynamic fisheries model is constructed. On the basis of this model it is demonstrated that in a differentiated fishery discarding of catch may be socially optimal. The paper goes on to show that individual firms in a free access, competitive fishery employ the socially optimal discarding rule. In contrast, the individual transferable quota (ITQ) fisheries management regime tends to generate an excessive incentive for discarding catch. The problem, however, does not appear to derive from the ITQ .system as such. Rather, it seems to depend on the imperfect application of the system to real fisheries. The concept of a discarding function is defined and it is shown that at least within the framework of the model employed the discarding function for an ITQ fishery dominates the one for free access, competitive fisheries. Numerical examples are provided. Finally, possible remedies of the discarding problem are briefly discussed.Fisheries economics, ITQs. discarding, highgrading, discarding function, differentiated fishery, Environmental Economics and Policy, Production Economics, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Advances in Property Rights Based Fisheries Management: An Introduction

Environmental Economics and Policy, International Relations/Trade,

The Icelandic Individual Transferable Quota System: A Descriptive Account

This paper provides a brief description of the evolution and current structure of the individual quota system (IQ) in the Icelandic fisheries. This particular fisheries managerial system was introduced at different times in different fisheries — in the herring fisheries in 1976, in the capelin fishery in 1980 and the demersal fisheries in 1984. Since 1990 all Icelandic fisheries have been subject to a uniform system of individual transferable quotas (ITQs). The paper discusses the social and economic impetus for the initial adoption of the ITQ fisheries system in the various fisheries, sketches its subsequent development and describes the key elements of the current system. Assessments of the economic impact of the ITQ system are presented in the last part of the paper. Although a definitive study of this impact is not available, the various indicators presented generally indicate an improvement, sometimes substantial one, in the economic efficiency of the fisheries in question.Individual transferable quotas, fishery management, economic impact and performance, Environmental Economics and Policy, Production Economics,

THE NORWEGIAN SPRING-SPAWNING HERRING FISHERY: A STYLIZED GAME MODEL

This paper presents an empirically based, game-theoretic model of the exploitation of the Norwegian spring-spawning herring stock, also known as the Atlanto-Scandian herring stock. The model involves five exploiters; Norway, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, the EU, and Russia and an explicit, stochastic migratory behavior of the stock. Under these conditions Markov Perfect (Nash) equilibrium game strategies are calculated and compared to the jointly optimal exploitation pattern. Not surprisingly, it turns out that the solution to the competitive game is hugely inefficient, leading very quickly to the virtual exhaustion of the resource. The scope for cooperative agreements involving the calculation of Shapley values is investigated. Although the grand coalition of all players maximizes overall benefits, such a coalition can hardly be stable over time unless side payments are possible.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

The Impact of Cruciferous Vegetable and Soy Phytochemicals on Prostate Cancer Cell Progression

Background: Prostate cancer is a disease of aging, particularly in nations of affluence, with risk increasing several hundred-fold from age 40 to 75. Indeed, as one of the most common malignancies in Americans, it is a significant health care burden. In addition, prostate cancer treatment strategies result in significant negative impacts on quality of life for a growing number of senior citizens. Therefore, prevention strategies are critically needed. Accumulating research suggests that several dietary factors may reduce risk, such as consumption of cruciferous vegetables, soy, and tomatoes. Our laboratory work and others suggests that specific components of these foods demonstrate anticancer properties, such as inhibition of cancer cell proliferation and enhanced sensitivity to activation of cell death programs (apoptosis). Objective: We hypothesize that bioactive phytochemicals can be combined in specific combinations within carefully designed functional foods that meaningfully contribute to the prevention of prostate cancer progression. We evaluated the combined effects of the bioactive components in arugula in cell-based studies, using erucin, sulphoraphane and genistein. Design: Prostate cancer cells (PC3) were treated in vitro with 5-20 uM of sulforaphane, 5-20 uM of erucin, and 5-40 uM of genistein, alone and in specific combinations. Cell viability was measured at 24, 48 and 72 hours after treatment using the Sulforhodamine B method to investigate the combined contribution of proliferation and apoptosis. In addition, preliminary cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry was conducted to determine the impact of erucin and genistein alone and in combination on cell cycle progression. Results: Cruciferous vegetables components at 20 uM such as sulforaphane (high in broccoli) and erucin (high in arugula) were equally effective at 72 hours with 75% vs 80% viability respectively. Genistein (20 uM) from soy foods was also modestly effective, reducing viability by 35%. Erucin and genistein display unique time and dose dependent profiles of inhibition. Significance: Laboratory in vitro studies may help us define combinations of phytochemicals that have combined anticancer effects, helping us to design novel food products (e.g. a vegetable juice) for future human studies.No embarg

Efficiency Advantages of Grandfathering in Rights-Based Fisheries Management

We show that grandfathering fishing rights to local users or recognizing first possessions is more dynamically efficient than auctions of such rights. It is often argued that auctions allocate rights to the highest-valued users and thereby maximize resource rents. We counter that rents are not fixed in situ, but rather depend additionally upon the innovation, investment, and collective actions of fishers, who discover and enhance stocks and convert them into valuable goods and services. Our analysis shows how grandfathering increases rents by raising expected rates of return for investment, lowering the cost of capital, and providing incentives for collective action.Fishing rights, property rights, allocating fishing rights, grandfathering fishing rights, auctions of fishing rights, fisheries rent

Comprendre le théâtre du xviie siècle grâce à ses « encadrements » : interpréter George Dandin de Molière et Cadmus et Hermione de Quinault à la lumière de leurs ornements parathéâtraux

Un grand nombre de pièces du xviie siècle sont « encadrées » par des ornements parathéâtraux : prologues, épilogues, intermèdes et choeurs. Rarement représentés, ces encadrements sont pourtant des indices, laissés par les auteurs, qui nous fournissent des informations sur la pièce principale. En analysant les encadrements de George Dandin et de Cadmus et Hermione, nous illustrerons la façon dont ces ornements nous permettent de mieux comprendre non seulement les idées d’une pièce, mais aussi son style.A considerable number of 17th century plays are “framed” by various paratheatrical ornaments such as prologues, epilogues, intermèdes and choruses. Although seldom performed, they are in fact clues left by the author which give information about the principal work. By analysing the function of paratheatrical “frames” in George Dandin and Cadmus et Hermione, this article aims to illustrate how these ornaments can help us better understand not only the ideas of a play, but also its style

Multiwavelength, Machine Learning, and Parallax Studies of X-ray Binaries in Three Local Group Galaxies

X-ray binary stars are rare systems consisting of a black hole or neutron star and a main-sequence companion star. They are useful probes of galaxy properties and interesting laboratories for extreme physical conditions. In this thesis, I investigated the X-ray binary population of three galaxies in the Local Group. The Sculptor Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy offers the chance to study a primordial low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) population in an isolated, low-metallicity environment. Combining X-ray, optical, and infrared observations, I have studied nine previously-identified and discovered four additional LMXB candidates in this galaxy. Of these candidates, all but one are either background galaxies or foreground stars, meaning that Sculptor is presently effectively devoid of bright LMXBs. If Sculptor is able to retain primordial LMXBs at a similar rate to globular clusters, it is likely that bright XRBs in globular clusters observed in the present day were dynamically formed. The Andromeda Galaxy has the largest catalogue of Chandra-studied X-ray sources of any nearby galaxy. I have used this population to test a proof-of-concept method for identifying X-ray binary candidates using machine learning algorithms trained on known sources. After testing a variety of commonly used algorithms, I find that the best-performing random forest algorithm can identify X-ray binary candidates with 85% accuracy. I have identified 16 new strong X-ray binary candidates and find that 4 sources classified as X-ray binaries by this method coincide with star clusters identified by the Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury project. The Milky Way\u27s X-ray binary population is the easiest to study but the most challenging for which to accurately measure distance. I have crossmatched Galactic X-ray binary catalogs to the second data release of the Gaia mission, finding candidate counterparts for 86 Galactic X-ray binaries. Distances to Gaia candidate counterparts are systematically smaller than those measured using Type I X-ray bursts, suggesting that these bursts do not consistently reach the Eddington limit. High-mass X-ray binaries are correlated with the Galaxy\u27s spiral arms and low-mass X-ray binaries are anti-correlated with the Galaxy\u27s spiral arms at a low level of significance