Search

Abstract: Catch of marine fish grew from after WW II–1989, at which point it stabilized. In 1996 it began to decline. It continues to decline now, at a time when earth''s population is expected to reach 10 billion by 2050. Since the factors driving the increase are primarily the growth in income, population, technology of catching fish and ever increasing fishing effort, it is to be expected that the aggregate marine catch will continue to decline. This decline has important implications for marine ecosystems but primarily its importance relates to the human use of other global resources such as food, water and world''s climate. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Fisheries is not the only discipline where models have been used in attempts to fine tune an aspect of the economy. Such fine-tuning can prove ineffective because of the uncertainties in the scientific underpinnings of the models and because of the omission of critical elements. In fisheries, the biological goal is to set allowable catches so that the harvest is not so large that it endangers the future health of the fish stock while it is not so low as to waste food, while the economic goal is to maximize the net economic rent generated by the fishery. It has long been recognized that the science underlying the setting of the total allowable catch is often too uncertain to justify such fine tuning, and that attempts to achieve that delicate balance has helped lead to crises in fisheries. One solution is to abandon such marginalism in favor of seriously reducing current catches. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) is a project of the intergovernmental Arctic Council, intended to synthesize knowledge of the effects of climate change on the Arctic. This paper is based on the primary output of the ACIA project, a 1042 page book entitled Arctic Climate Impact Assessment. Our concern is with the effects of Arctic climate change on fisheries. To set the stage, however, we first discuss those chapters that logically precede the fisheries discussion, the chapters concerned with past and present climate change, climate modeling and marine systems. The conclusion notes that moderate climate warming will probably benefit most Arctic fisheries. The conclusion also considers the role of anthropogenic causation in climate change and its policy implications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Excessive overfishing combined with negative environmental conditions led to the decimation of the northern cod stock and its closure to commercial fishing in 1992. During the ensuing dozen years, the stock has not recovered. This paper considers the current state of the Newfoundland economy and the Newfoundland fishery and asks whether the lessons of the earlier day have been learned. The answer appears to be no. The main mover of the economy is exogenous to the fishery, the unemployment rate remains high, currently more than twice the Canadian rate, and the population of the province has fallen by ten percent. With respect to the fishery, although the decimated groundfish have been replaced by shellfish and the nominal value of landings has doubled since 1992, the fishery still has excess capacity, fishermen and fish plant workers generally earn low incomes, and the fishery remains heavily subsidized. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This brief note is an update to the authors' "The Expansion, Limit and Decline of the Global Marine Fish Catch," published in the September 2012 issue of Marine Policy. That paper examined the steady increase in the world's catch from 1950 to 1989, its slight decline and rise to a final peak in 1996. This limit has been followed by a steady decline to 2010. Since there have been improvements in the technology of fishing and no reason to believe that there has been a reduction in fishing effort, then the apparent limit and subsequent decline in the catch suggests a reduction in the supply of fish and invertebrates in the world's oceans. The earlier paper also noted the geographic shift in the world's catch to Asia and the rise of China to become the world's largest catcher of fish. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A new approach to fisheries management is suggested. Recognizing thegreat uncertainty and variability that affects the supply of fish, combined with the immobility of capital and labor in the industry, a small core fishery should be maintained with the capacity to catch only the quantity of fish that it would be safe to catch as the stock approaches the lower limits of its natural cycle. When fish are abundant, the excess would be auctioned to risk takers who have neither a permanent commitment to, nor multi-year fishing rights in, the fishery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on the results of an investigation of management costs in the fisheries of Iceland, Newfoundland and Norway and discusses them in a more general framework. Management costs are defined ascosts necessary to overcome the problems associated with common property. The question of whether management costs should be paid by industry is discussed, as is the likely effect of user pay on the efficiency with which management is provided. Since management has public goods characteristics, it is likely that there is an unavoidable role for government in providing these services. The question of who pays for it is separate, and recovering costs from industry has both efficiency and optimal taxation aspects. A greater involvement in management by industry further raises the question of compatibility between the industry's interests and the public interest. Measured as percent of gross value of fish landings the management costs are by far highest in Newfoundland (15/25%), lowest in Iceland (about 3%), with Norwayin the middle (about 10%). Management costs thus appear to be substantial and quite variable. This gives rise to three conclusions. First, when calculating optimal harvesting and investment paths one must take the management costs of implementing these paths explicitly into account. Second, what is the economic efficiency of management? Couldthe same level of benefits be produced at lower costs? Third, can fisheries management expenditures of the magnitude discussed be justified in the sense that the benefits exceed the costs? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fishermen's unemployment insurance system in Canada must be among the most controversial aspects of this most controversial of industries. The implementation of the system in 1957 did nothing to stem the tide of opposition. While virtually every 'expert' who has ever looked at the system has suggested that seasonal fishermen be removed from unemployment insurance coverage, there have been only two serious attempts to do so. The first occurred during the first half of the 1960s, following the release of the Gill Report. The second occurred during the mid-1970s following an ultimately abortive federal Cabinet directive. The primary question asked, and answered, is why in the face of determined opposition to the system, did attempts to reform the fishermen's unemployment scheme repeatedly fail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]