Abstract
Abstract Fisheries operate under fluctuating environmental conditions, targeting fish stocks that appear in varying densities in different areas, often with abrupt and unexpected local changes. Physical conditions, markets and management regulations constrain vessels in different and varying ways. These factors all contribute to forming the fleet diversity we find in most fisheries. Here, a simulation model of the Northeast Arctic cod fishery is used in order to investigate how this diversity is formed and maintained, assuming rational economic behaviour under varying combined constraints. The study also focuses on how the ability of vessels to find fish influences fleet diversity, profitability, stock development and seasonal profiles of the fishery. Results indicate that an increased ability to target the most profitable fishing grounds may influence fleet diversity positively or negatively, depending on overall exploitation level. High exploitation rates also increase the temporal fluctuations in fleet diversity and profits, which are amplified as the fish-finding ability increases.
Highlights
The seminal works of Scott Gordon and Anthony Scott in the mid-f ifties (Gordon, 1954; Scott, 1955) introduced a modelling framework to analyse open access f isheries
The aim of this study is to focus on causes and consequences of f leet diversity
The results of this study indicate that technical development may expand or reduce f leet diversity, depending on the exploitation rate
Summary
The seminal works of Scott Gordon and Anthony Scott in the mid-f ifties (Gordon, 1954; Scott, 1955) introduced a modelling framework to analyse open access f isheries. The single-species, single-f leet Gordon-Schaefer model (G-S-model) fails to explain how a diverse f leet develops and why it remains; more so, the basic assumptions are contradicted by the pure existence of diverse f leets in most all f isheries. It is with this background that one has to understand Wilen’s (2000) statement: “the practical importance of most of this work over the period has been negligible, especially relative to the intellectual effort embodied”
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