History of the West Coast groundfish trawl fishery: Tracking socioeconomic characteristics across different management policies in a multispecies fishery

Warlick, Amanda; Steiner, Erin; Guldin, Marie

doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2018.03.014

Cited by 30 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Later‐developing fisheries in the Southeast Pacific (Chile) had low mean fishing pressure before 1990, but fishing pressure increased to well above U MSY around 2010 but now appear to be declining. The Eastern Central Pacific (US portion, off the coast of California) saw a major decline in U/U MSY beginning in the late 1990s as a result of mandatory rebuilding requirements for several depleted rockfish stocks (McQuaw & Hilborn, 2020; Warlick et al., 2018) and continues to have the lowest fishing pressure among all regions.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global status of groundfish stocks

et al. 2021

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We review the status of groundfish stocks using published scientific assessments for 349 individual stocks constituting 90% of global groundfish catch. Overall, average stock abundance is increasing and is currently above the level that would produce maximum sustainable yield (MSY). Fishing pressure for cod‐like fishes (Gadiformes) and flatfishes (Pleuronectiformes) was, for several decades, on average well above levels associated with MSY, but is now at or below the level expected to produce MSY. In contrast, fishing pressure for rockfishes (Scorpaeniformes) decreased from near MSY‐related levels in the mid‐1990s, and since the mid‐2000s has remained on average at only one third of MSY‐related levels. Regions with the most depressed groundfish stocks are the Northwest Atlantic and the Pacific coast of South America, while stocks from the Northeast and Eastern Central Pacific, Northeast Atlantic, Southeast Atlantic and Southwest Pacific tend to have greatest average abundance relative to MSY‐based reference points. In the most recent year available for each stock, the catch was only 61% of MSY. Equilibrium yield curves indicate that 76% of global potential groundfish yield could be achieved using current estimates of fishing pressure. 15% of this is lost by excess fishing pressure, 67% results from lower than optimal fishing pressure on healthy stocks and 18% is lost from stocks currently overfished but rebuilding. Thus, there is modest opportunity to increase catch of global groundfish fisheries by reducing overfishing on some stocks, but more by increasing harvest on others. However, there may be other reasons not to fully exploit these stocks.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global status of groundfish stocks

et al. 2021

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“…In order to adjust to the fluctuations of individual fisheries, many fishers across California, Oregon and Washington have historically targeted diverse species assemblages (Aguilera et al., 2015; Holland & Kasperski, 2016; Kasperski & Holland, 2013). However, in response to concerns surrounding declines in landings and revenue within the historically productive salmon and groundfish sectors, management authorities first began to restrict fisheries access in the 1970s and 80s by capping the absolute number of licenses and establishing gear restrictions (Holland & Kasperski, 2016; Richerson & Holland, 2017; Warlick et al., 2018). With the development of catch shares and other quota‐based management systems (often referred to as “fisheries rationalization”) across the United States in the mid‐ to late 90s (Mansfield, 2004; Olson, 2011) efforts to privatize fisheries continued to gain traction and many inactive or part‐time fishermen were limited to small amounts of catch or gear of limited productivity (Kasperski & Holland, 2013).…”

Section: Study Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes to the structure and function of an albacore fishery reveal shifting social‐ecological realities for Pacific Northwest fishermen

et al. 2020

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Marine fisheries around the globe are increasingly exposed to external drivers of social and ecological change. Though diversification and flexibility have historically helped marine resource users negotiate risk and adversity, much of modern fisheries management treats fishermen as specialists using specific gear types to target specific species. Here, we describe the evolution of harvest portfolios amongst Pacific Northwest fishermen over 35+ years with explicit attention to changes in the structure and function of the albacore (Thunnus alalunga, Scombridae) troll and pole‐and‐line fishery. Our analysis indicates that recent social–ecological changes have had heterogenous impacts upon the livelihood strategies favoured by different segments of regional fishing fleets. As ecological change and regulatory reform have restricted access to a number of fisheries, many of the regional small (<45 ft) and medium (45–60 ft) boat fishermen who continue to pursue diverse livelihood strategies have increasingly relied upon the ability to opportunistically target albacore in coastal waters while retaining more of the value generated by such catch. In contrast, large vessels (>60 ft) targeting albacore are more specialized now than previously observed, even as participation in multiple fisheries has become increasingly common for this size class. In describing divergent trajectories associated with the albacore fishery, one of the US West Coast's last open‐access fisheries, we highlight the diverse strategies and mechanisms utilized to sustain fisheries livelihoods in the modern era while arguing that alternative approaches to management and licensing may be required to maintain the viability of small‐scale fishing operations worldwide moving forward.

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“…The number of active vessels in the groundfish fishery has been decreasing since the 1990s (Figure 4) (Warlick, Steiner, and Guldin 2018). A federal buyback program in 2003 permanently removed 91 vessels and associated permits from the fishery (Holland, Steiner, and Warlick 2017).…”

Section: Consolidation and Effortmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The West Coast Groundfish Trawl Fishery has a complex past leading up to the implementation of catch shares (Warlick, Steiner, and Guldin 2018). Created in 1982, the Fishery Management Plan covers over 90 species of rockfish, flatfish, and roundfish.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Economic Outcomes for Harvesters under the West Coast Groundfish Trawl Catch Share Program: Have Goals and Objectives Been Met?

et al. 2018

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The West Coast Groundfish Trawl Catch Share Program was designed to achieve multiple economic goals and objectives, including increasing net benefits, profitability, flexibility, and utilization of harvest allocations. In this article, we leverage seven years of comprehensive cost and earnings data to evaluate progress towards these goals with a focus on harvesters. Our assessment shows that five years post-implementation, net benefits to the nation have doubled, and indicators of productivity and profitability have increased. The fleet that targets Pacific whiting has seen the largest gains, due in part to increases in total allowable catch and the elimination of the race-to-fish. However, increased revenues have not been realized to the degree that was expected for harvesters targeting non-whiting groundfish, partly due to lower than predicted consolidation and relatively low quota utilization. Economic outcomes indicate that tradeoffs exist between certain objectives of the program, specifically between achieving full utilization and flexibility for harvesters. Results are discussed in the context of the design and evaluation of catch share programs for diverse, multispecies fisheries.

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History of the West Coast groundfish trawl fishery: Tracking socioeconomic characteristics across different management policies in a multispecies fishery

Cited by 30 publications

References 25 publications

Global status of groundfish stocks

Global status of groundfish stocks

Changes to the structure and function of an albacore fishery reveal shifting social‐ecological realities for Pacific Northwest fishermen

Economic Outcomes for Harvesters under the West Coast Groundfish Trawl Catch Share Program: Have Goals and Objectives Been Met?

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