Decision-making in a mixed commercial-recreational fishery for Atlantic bluefin tuna

Abstract

While commercial and recreational fisheries are often considered to compete with one another, in the Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery along the U.S. east coast individual fishermen are permitted to fish either commercially or recreationally on a trip-by-trip basis. How these individuals choose to fish can affect whether the fishery adheres to domestic bluefin tuna regulations and could impact the United States' ability to comply with international management measures. We applied a contingent sequential stated choice survey to bluefin tuna fishermen to identify key factors governing disposition decisions, evaluate the impact of inertia (habit formation), and forecast future harvest patterns. Those who primarily fished recreationally demonstrated more opportunistic harvest tendencies than their commercial counterparts, who were more stable in their preference to harvest fish for sale. Simulations based on model results indicated that fish disposition (harvest commercially, harvest recreationally, or release) varied widely based on regulatory, individual, and fishery characteristics. Such results can help managers to forecast harvest patterns and adopt regulatory tools to ensure that harvest remains within prescribed limits.