Long-run productivity changes in the Australian Northern prawn fishery

Abstract

This study examines long-run changes in productivity within the Australian Northern prawn fishery, an input control managed fishery. Productivity change is estimated through a Malmquist Index over a 20-year period from 1999–2000 to 2019–2020, decomposing productivity into technical change and efficiency change components. Fluctuations in the Malmquist Index over the period of the study were driven primarily by the technical change component, reflecting changes in stock abundance, technical improvements, and the effects of management. The efficiency change index was found to be relatively stable throughout the study period. The findings suggests that changes in performance of the fleet are driven largely by exogenous factors impacting catches, with limited change in the relative skill of fishers.