Economic and environmental effects of replacing bottom trawling with fishing with creels

Cecilia Hammarlund,Patrik Jonsson,Daniel Valentinsson,Staffan Waldo

doi:10.1111/1467-8489.12409

Cecilia Hammarlund, Patrik Jonsson + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8489.12409

Copy DOI

Abstract

Bottom trawling is associated with negative external effects such as seafloor pressure and high fuel use. Replacing bottom trawls with passive gear, such as creels, is therefore interesting for policymakers. We investigate the response of the Norway lobster fishery in Sweden to an expanded creel area. Using an economic model (FishRent), we analyse fleet structure, net present value and two environmental indicators under five management scenarios. Our results show that expanding the creel area increases the number of creel fishers, while some trawlers leave the fishery. In total, the net present value and the environmental performance of the fishery improve.

Highlights

Strategic choice of management measures can have large impacts on the environmental, social and economic sustainability of fisheries
We show the change in the number of vessels and the change in the Net Present Value (NPV) of profits of the fishery, when the creel area is expanded
An important aspect of the management of the Scenario 3 (MAX1) – Maximised profits and unchanged area for creel fishers The net present value of the fishery is maximised under the assumption that that the area for the Nephrops fishery is geographically limited to the current area

Summary

Introduction

Strategic choice of management measures can have large impacts on the environmental, social and economic sustainability of fisheries. Bottom trawling has been debated for its negative effects on the environment and different measures to reduce these effects are of interest to policymakers. Fishing with creels has been found to environmentally outperform the trawl fishery, since creel fishing exerts lower seafloor pressure, uses less fuel per landed kilogram and has lower bycatch per landed kilogram (Ziegler and Valentinsson 2008; Hornborg et al 2016). Demersal trawls, such as those used for Nephrops, are known to affect seafloor habitats, change species composition and reduce biodiversity (Ball et al 2000; Bergmann et al 2001; Bergmann et al 2002; Skold et al 2018). Since trawl and creel fishing cannot take place simultaneously in the same geographical area, specific areas have been dedicated to each gear type

Objectives

Results

Conclusion