Fewer Fish for Higher Profits? Price Response and Economic Incentives in Global Tuna Fisheries Management

AbstractResource allocation is a fundamental and challenging component of common pool resource governance, particularly transboundary fisheries. We highlight the growing importance of allocation in fisheries governance, comparing approaches of the five tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (tRFMOs). We find all tRFMOs except one have defined resources for allocation and outlined principles to guide allocation based on equity, citizenship, and legitimacy. However, all fall short of applying these principles in assigning fish resources. Most tRFMOs rely on historical catch or effort, while equity principles rarely determine dedicated rights. Further, the current system of annual negotiations reduces certainty, trust, and transparency, counteracting many benefits asserted by rights-based management proponents. We suggest one means of gaining traction may be to shift conversations from allocative rights toward weighting of principles already identified by most tRFMOs. Incorporating principles into resource allocation remains a major opportunity, with important implications for current and future access to fish.

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Economic incentives to target species and fish size: prices and fine-scale product attributes in Norwegian fisheries

ICES Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.1093/icesjms/fsu208 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 72 (3) ◽

pp. 733-740 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

Frank Asche ◽

Yanyou Chen ◽

Martin D. Smith

Keyword(s):

Fisheries Management ◽

Economic Incentives ◽

Product Form ◽

Target Species ◽

Substantial Variation ◽

King Crab ◽

Fish Size ◽

As Species ◽

Harvest Timing ◽

Unique Dataset

Abstract Improved fisheries management provides fishers with more opportunities to maximize harvest value by accounting for valuable attributes of the harvest such as species, harvest timing, fish size, product form, and landing location. Harvest values can also vary by vessel and gear type. Moreover, the extent of targeting can influence the ecosystem in which the fishers operate and provide important management challenges. We utilize a unique dataset containing daily vessel-level fish landings in one region of Norway in 2010 to investigate the value of an array of attributes, including species, product form, product condition, timing, fish size, vessel type, gear type, and landing location for cod and other whitefish species, as well as king crab. We also investigate to what extent landed value differs across different communities, firms, and plants. The results indicate substantial variation for all attributes, highlighting opportunities for fishers as well as potential management challenges. For whitefish, the species landed accounts for three-quarters of the variation in prices. For cod in particular, the fish size accounts for nearly all variation in prices. In these fisheries, market conditions justify management focus on the biological composition of the catch.

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Tuna Fisheries Sustainable Management: Assessing of Indonesia Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) Fisheries

E3S Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/e3sconf/20186804019 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 68 ◽

pp. 04019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ignatius Tri Hargiyatno ◽

Suyud Warno Utomo ◽

Rauf Achmad Sue ◽

Wudianto

Keyword(s):

Fisheries Management ◽

Sustainable Management ◽

Policy Recommendations ◽

Fish Resources ◽

Swimming Pattern ◽

The Social ◽

Tuna Fishing ◽

The Government ◽

Tuna Fisheries ◽

Fish Aggregating Devices

This paper aims to describe the Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) fisheries in Indonesia and its relation to sustainable fisheries management. On tuna fishing, FADs are widely used as a tool to attract fish. FADs uncontrolled development is feared to have an impact on the sustainability of fish resources. We found that most of the fish caught around FADs are still juvenile. Deployment FADs can also interfere with the swimming pattern of tuna resources. This is negatively affecting the sustainability of tuna resources. However, from the social and economic aspects, FADs provide significant benefits for fishing communities. The Government has imposed regulations on FADs but not yet implemented. The objective of SDG's in the management of tuna fisheries associated with FADs can be implemented through the application of RFMO regulations. Findings from this paper can be used for policy recommendations for the management of sustainable FADsfisheries.

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The effect of rights-based fisheries management on risk taking and fishing safety

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.1509456113 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 113 (10) ◽

pp. 2615-2620 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Lisa Pfeiffer ◽

Trevor Gratz

Keyword(s):

Fisheries Management ◽

Economic Incentives ◽

Commercial Fishing ◽

High Wind ◽

Safety Issues ◽

Catch Shares ◽

Stormy Weather ◽

The Individual ◽

Us West ◽

Competitive Nature

Commercial fishing is a dangerous occupation despite decades of regulatory initiatives aimed at making it safer. We posit that rights-based fisheries management (the individual allocation of fishing quota to vessels or fishing entities, also called catch shares) can improve safety by solving many of the problems associated with the competitive race to fish experienced in fisheries around the world. The competitive nature of such fisheries results in risky behavior such as fishing in poor weather, overloading vessels with fishing gear, and neglecting maintenance. Although not necessarily intended to address safety issues, catch shares eliminate many of the economic incentives to fish as rapidly as possible. We develop a dataset and methods to empirically evaluate the effects of the adoption of catch shares management on a particularly risky type of behavior: the propensity to fish in stormy weather. After catch shares was implemented in an economically important US West Coast fishery, a fisherman’s probability of taking a fishing trip in high wind conditions decreased by 82% compared with only 31% in the former race to fish fishery. Overall, catch shares caused the average annual rate of fishing on high wind days to decrease by 79%. These results are evidence that institutional changes can significantly reduce individual, voluntary risk exposure and result in safer fisheries.

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International Law on Tuna Fisheries Management

10.5771/9783845263915 ◽

2015 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ingo Unterweger

Keyword(s):

International Law ◽

Fisheries Management ◽

Tuna Fisheries

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KEBIJAKAN RUMPONISASI PERIKANAN PUKAT CINCIN INDONESIA YANG BEROPERASI DI PERAIRAN LAUT LEPAS

Jurnal Kebijakan Perikanan Indonesia ◽

10.15578/jkpi.5.2.2013.97-106 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 97

Author(s):

Duto Nugroho ◽

Suherman Banon Atmaja

Keyword(s):

Fisheries Management ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Social Dimension ◽

Potential Conflict ◽

Fishing Vessels ◽

Long Run ◽

Tuna Fisheries ◽

Tropical Tuna ◽

Fish Aggregating Devices ◽

High Seas

Penggunaan rumpon laut-dalam telah mengubah taktik dan strategi perikanan pukat cincin pelagis kecil yang beroperasi di perairan dangkal untuk bergeser pada perikanan tuna neritik tropis. Rumponisasi perikanan pukat cincin yang dirancang untuk meningkatkan produktivitas telah menjadi masalah serius pada perikanan neritik tuna. Hal ini terjadi karena tertangkapnya ikan berukuran kecil dalam jumlah yang dominan sehingga dalam jangka panjang akan berpotensi konflik dengan perikanan lainnya. Para ilmuwan yang tergabung dalam pengelolaan perikanan regional merekomendasikan bahwa pengembangan terkendali terhadap penggunaan rumpon di daerah asuhan juvenile tuna tropis. Pengendalian dalam jangka panjang dapat meminimalkan ancaman bagi kelangsungan hidup kelompok jenis tuna. Hal ini terkait dengan pentingnya memperbesar peluang masuknya sediaan kelompok jenis ini pada tingkat yang layak untuk dimanfaatkan. Di Indonesia, pilihan kebijakan perikanan tangkap baik melalui peralihan sasaran kelompok spesies maupun diversifikasi usaha penangkapan akan selalu bertumpu pada pertimbangan sosial. Bagaimanapun juga, proses mengubah pemahaman nelayan nelalui pengendalian jumlah dan teknologi kapal penangkap ikan serta penutupan sementara daerah penangkapan yang akan melalui proses panjang harus tetap dijalankan untuk mencegah runtuhnya perikanan yang saat ini sedang berjalan.The use of Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) has radically changing the tactic and strategy shallow waters small pelagic purse seiner into high seas tropical neritics tuna fisheries. Applying FADs on purse seine fishery which initiated to increase its productivity became a serious problem to neritics tuna fishery. This indicated by the negative impact on neritics and tropical tuna populations due to large number of small size of tunas being caught and uncertain of number and of FADS position in the high seas. In the long run it will generate a potential conflict to other existing fisheries. The member scientists of regional fisheries management organization (RFMO) recommends that the development of the use of FADs, especially in the area which dominated of juvenile of tropical tuna, should be strongly regulated. FADs management through control system should be applied to minimize impact on recruitment process that associated with the importance of long term availability of its fisheries. Management option through shifting target species and diversification of the fishing activities in Indonesia would always be rely on social dimension. Nevertheles, reorientation on fishers understanding on controllable number of fishing vessels and its technological creeps should strongly be implemented to avoid collapse their existing fisheries.

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PENGELOLAAN PERIKANAN TUNA (Thunnus sp) DENGAN PENDEKATAN EKOSISTEM (STUDI KASUS DOMAIN SOSIAL EKONOMI DI PPI UJONG BAROH ACEH BARAT PROVINSI ACEH

JURNAL PERIKANAN TROPIS ◽

10.35308/jpt.v4i1.56 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 57

Author(s):

Mohamad Gazali ◽

Edwarsyah Edwarsyah ◽

Nilam Shantica ◽

Salmah Salmah

Keyword(s):

Fisheries Management ◽

Stakeholder Participation ◽

Good Condition ◽

Ecosystem Approach ◽

Local Institution ◽

Depth Interview ◽

Productive Asset ◽

Moderate Condition ◽

Tuna Fisheries ◽

Management Case Study

We focused on socio-economic aspect to West of Aceh’s Fishermen. The research aims to analyze the socio-economical domain of Tuna (Thunnus sp) in fisheries management based ecosystem approach to fisheries management (Case study at PPI Ujong Baroh). The study was conducted from January – March 2016 that is located at PPI Ujong Baroh West of Aceh. The sampling method is purposive sampling through depth interview and questionnaire. Data analysis method is flag modeling techniques with the approach Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA). The result shown that the assessment to indicate the fisheries conflict and the utilization of indigenous knowledge were categorized good condition because there is local institution (lembaga laot) that managed and arranged regulations of fisheries management in West of Aceh. This local institution was lead by Panglima Laot. Moreover, the assesment of stakeholder participation was categorized moderate condition. The participation of stakeholder has not ran yet effectively in Tuna fisheries management at West of Aceh. For economical domain shown that income of fisheries household and saving ratio were categorized bad conditions. Most fishermen possess debt to require life necessity before fishing. In other side, Tuna fisheries depend on season and mostly wives also don’t have sufficient knowledge to increase their income through fish processing. Moreover, the asset ownership has shown “medium” condition. According to fishermen, their productive asset stil likely to constant if we compared in the previous year.

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Characterization, Communication, and Management of Uncertainty in Tuna Fisheries

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12198245 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (19) ◽

pp. 8245

Author(s):

Gorka Merino ◽

Hilario Murua ◽

Josu Santiago ◽

Haritz Arrizabalaga ◽

Victor Restrepo

Keyword(s):

Decision Rule ◽

Fisheries Management ◽

Stock Assessment ◽

Maximum Sustainable Yield ◽

Natural Systems ◽

Stock Status ◽

Management Procedures ◽

Tuna Fisheries ◽

Sustainability Challenges ◽

Management Recommendations

Tunas sustain important fisheries that face sustainability challenges worldwide, including the uncertainty inherent to natural systems. The Kobe process aims at harmonizing the scientific advice and management recommendations in tuna regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) toward supporting the sustainable exploitation of tunas globally. In this context, we review the similarities and differences among tuna RFMOs, focusing on stock assessment methodologies, use of information, characterization of uncertainty and communication of advice. Also, under the Kobe process, tuna RFMOs have committed to a path of adopting harvest strategies (HSs), also known as management procedures (MPs), which are the series of actions undertaken to monitor the stock, make management decisions, and implement the management measures. The adoption of HSs for tuna stocks is supported by Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE), which is considered the most appropriate way to assess the consequences of uncertainty for achieving fisheries management goals. Overall, notable progress has been made in achieving some of the Kobe objectives, but there are still some aspects that are inconsistent and need to be agreed upon, due to their management implications. First, not all RFMOs report on stock status based on maximum sustainable yield (MSY) as a reference. Instead, some use depletion level to represent the available fish biomass. Also, the definition of overexploited is not common in all oceans. Finally, very few stock assessments characterize all major sources of uncertainty inherent to fisheries. With regards to HSs, two different approaches are being followed: One is designed to adopt an automatic decision rule once the stock status and management quantities have been agreed upon (harvest control rules (HCRs), not strictly an HS) and the other aims at adopting all the components of HSs (data, use of information and decision rule).

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Moving towards a Rights-Based Fisheries Management Regime for the Tuna Fisheries in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean

The International Journal of Marine and Coastal Law ◽

10.1163/157180807781475290 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 125-142 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Transform Aqorau

Keyword(s):

Pacific Ocean ◽

Fisheries Management ◽

Pacific Island ◽

Central Pacific ◽

Central Pacific Ocean ◽

Island States ◽

Management Regime ◽

The Pacific ◽

Pacific Island States ◽

Tuna Fisheries

AbstractThe 2000 Convention for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPF Convention) establishes a Commission which will be responsible for setting catch limits and effort controls for the fishery. The Convention will require the Pacific Island States to impose some form of catch limits and this presents them with the opportunity to explore ways to enhance the fisheries regimes they manage. This paper explores the legal issues surrounding a possible rights-based regime, both as a collective approach by the Pacific Island States, and individually. The paper suggests possible legal approaches to the introduction of a rights-based fisheries management regime, drawing on ways in which they may structure their fisheries legislation, and on experiences from other regions. The paper concludes by examining the implications for the Pacific Island States of such an approach.

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