Spillover Effects of Environmental Regulation for Sea Turtle Protection in the Hawaii Longline Swordfish Fishery

Abstract

AbstractThis study examines spillover effects resulting from US fishing regulations instituted to protect sea turtles. Sea turtles, along with US and foreign fisheries for swordfish co-occur on the high seas in the North and Central Pacific and that allows for “spillover effects.” When one fishery is required to curtail fishing activity to reduce incidental fishing mortality on sea turtle populations, the activity of other, unregulated fleets may change in ways that adversely affect the very species intended for protection. This study provides an empirical model that estimates these “spillover effects” on sea turtle bycatch resulting from production displacement between regulated US and less-regulated non-US fleets in the North and Central Pacific Ocean. The study demonstrates strong spillover effects, resulting in more sea turtle interaction due to increased foreign fleet activity when Hawaii swordfish production declines.