International Institute of Fisheries Economics and Trade
Abstract
Bycatch is repeatedly noted as a primary problem of fisheries management
and as the foremost negative impact of commercial fishing. In the Bering
Sea pollock fishery, salmon bycatch reduction measures have included gear
modifications but have principally consisted of area closures. Bycatch
levels of chum and Chinook salmon have risen substantially since the
beginning of the decade and significant areas of the pollock fishery have
been closed at some points between 2002 and the present. These closures
have consisted of both large long-term Salmon Savings Area closures and
short-term voluntary rolling hotspot (VRHS) closures. More recently, the
North Pacific Fishery Management Council has acted to impose a hard cap
on the pollock fishery which would close the fishery if it were reached. In
this paper, we consider the effectiveness of different management actions
taken and under consideration to manage salmon bycatch. We examine the
effectiveness of spatial closures designed to reduce salmon bycatch in the
Bering Sea pollock fishery. We compare the relative effectiveness of
spatial management measures that have been implemented with tradable
salmon bycatch programs that will be implemented in 2011
