The Economic Impacts of the Recreational Bluefin Tuna Fishery in Hatteras, North Carolina

Abstract

Little is known about a recreational fishery for bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus that emerged in the winter months (1994–1996) near Hatteras, North Carolina. Our research sought to better understand this developing fishery, especially the extent of local and statewide economic impacts and the resultant implications for public and private fisheries management decision making at the local level. We used a quota-based sampling approach to collect names and addresses from charter and private boat anglers in Hatteras; 1,051 anglers were sampled and received a mail questionnaire soon after project personnel intercepted them. Technicians recorded a total of 1,390 bluefin tuna boat trips (1,020 charter boat trips and 370 private boat trips) between January 15 and March 22, 1997. These 1,390 trips resulted in an estimated 6,546 angler-days of bluefin tuna fishing from Hatteras. Trips by North Carolina residents accounted for only 15.6% of the total number of trips. Each angler spent an average of US$1,005 in the Hatteras area on his/her trip. Anglers who reported their boat retained a legal-sized bluefin tuna spent slightly less on their trips and per day of fishing than anglers who released all bluefin tuna caught. Overall, the population of bluefin tuna anglers in the Hatteras area spent $3,635,654 locally and $212,036 elsewhere in the state of North Carolina. These expenditures resulted in a total output of $4,627,108 and $5,032,870 on the Hatteras-area economy and North Carolina economy, respectively. The $3,436,654 in direct expenditures made by nonlocal anglers for local goods and services generated an additional $991,500 in economic output, resulting in a total output of $4,627,108 (output multiplier = 1.35) and 126 full and part-time jobs attributable to this fishery in 1997. At the state level, the bluefin tuna fishery had a similar economic impact, because many of the anglers were not North Carolina residents. Specifically, the total output associated with this fishery at the state level was $5,032,870. We suggest development of a community-based management strategy for encouraging catch-and-release fishing. Such a strategy provides a useful means for postponing quota closure, while fostering more overall fishing expenditures at the local level than would have been the case otherwise.