Systems of Production and Social Discourse: The Skipper Effect Revisited

Abstract

We have argued that differences in success in Icelandicfihing are statistically explained more by technical and ecological factors than by personal qualities of skippers, the "skipper effect. " Research by other scholars has reopened the discussion of the skipper effect. We assess some of the statistical arguments, pointing out that while there may be a strong skipper effect in some societies, in other societies it is weak or negligible. W e suggest that it is important to distinguish between the statistical reality of the skipper effect and its sociology and that the concept of skipper effect is of limited utility in comparative studies, since different researchers using it have not always been talking about the same phenomena andfihing success is conceived dafferently in different societies. The discussion of the skipper effect echoes debates on resource management and the authenticity of folk models, as well as larger debates in social theory on the relationship between the symbolic and the real and the role of history and agency. Folk theories ofproduction, we argue, are best regarded as cultural accounts constructed in social discourse, in the context of production systems.

Skippers, spotters and seiners: Analysis of the “skipper effect” in US menhaden (Brevoortia spp.) purse-seine fisheries

“…They argued that this effect was significant enough that fisheries managers ought to pay attention. On the other hand, Pálsson and Durrenberger (1982, 1984, 1990 found R 2 values ranging from 14 to 28% in Icelandic cod fisheries. They reasoned that despite a folk tradition glorifying the almost mystical ability of some fishermen to find fish, there was little evidence of a skipper effect.…”

“…If this is so, then it may not be entirely possible to control effort with restrictions on gear, vessel size, and so forth as the skill of the skipper utilizing the permitted technology can increase, either through learning or outright replacement. Related to this, programs designed to reduce the capacity of a fleet, such as license or vessel buy-back programs that retire some fraction of the fleet may lead to big improvements in fleet efficiency but have little effect on reducing total catch (Hilborn and Ledbetter, 1985;Pálsson and Durrenberger, 1990;Holland et al, 1999;Clark et al, 2005) especially where skilled skippers may easily transfer vessels (Tingley et al, 2005).…”

“…Early papers on the topic looked for skipper effects by examining the size of the residual variance remaining after vessel characteristics, and sometimes effort, were assessed. Findings vary and as Pálsson and Durrenberger (1990) note, authors also vary in their estimation of the importance of these figures. On the one hand, Acheson (1977Acheson ( in 1981 finds 39% of variance in the Maine lobster fishery is unexplained by material factors, effort, and to a lesser extent, skipper education.…”

“…Still they found that the unexplained variance was considerably higher than Pálsson and Durrenberger (1982) reported; 25% for small boats and 63% for large boats. In response, Pálsson and Durrenberger (1990) clarified their position, acknowledging that a skipper effect might exist, but argued that it is much less important than cultural traditions suggest. They emphasized that the folk model of 'king' skippers indicates that fishing is a social, rather than completely individualistic activity, in which fishers compete for prestige, and actively manipulate reputation in order to gain access to better boats and especially to better crews, who may work together more efficiently and safely.…”

Landscape Influences on Fisher Success: Adaptation Strategies in Closed and Open Access Fisheries in Southern Chile

“…The skipper effect concept and the relative influence of the variables used in these studies can help to characterize which fisher strategies can help fishers adapt and respond to environmental change. Many skipper effect studies test whether or not experience or skill (the skipper effect) explains catch variation, while controlling for technology (Palsson and Durrenberger 1990); some also measured environmental measures and geospatial factors (Acheson 1977). An ideology and observed skipper effect was shown in Acheson's (1977) study, which found that placement of lobster traps depended on skill.…”