Fleet Segments Research Articles

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Fisheries: The Case of Multiple Regulatory Instruments in Sweden

The fishing sector is a candidate for efficient climate policies because it is commonly exempted from greenhouse gas taxes and the fundamental problem of using a common pool resource is far from optimally solved. At the same time, fisheries management has other objectives. This study uses Swedish fisheries to analyse how the fishing sector and its climate impact are affected by regulations aiming at: (1) solving the common pool problem (2) taxing greenhouse gas emissions and (3) maintaining small-scale fisheries. The empirical approach is a linear programming model where the effects of simultaneously using multiple regulations are analyzed. Solving the common pool problem will lead to a 30 % reduction in emissions and substantially increase economic returns. Taxing greenhouse gas emissions will further reduce emissions. Policies for maintaining the small-scale fleet will increase the size of this fleet segment, but at the cost of lower economic returns. However, combining this policy with fuel taxes will reduce the size of the small-scale fleet, thus counteracting the effects of the policy. If taxation induces fuel-saving innovations, it is shown that this will affect not only emissions and fleet structure, but also quota uptake.

Permanent trawl fishery closures in the Mediterranean Sea: An effective management strategy?

Since June 2010 the Italian government prohibited the trawling activity within three nautical miles from the coast or within the 50m isobath. This decision was expected to have a great impact on trawl fishing activities, but at the moment no real assessment of the effects on catches and possible ecological implications has been undertaken. In order to fill this gap, an assessment on the North Western Adriatic Sea coast has been performed. Landings per Unit of Effort (kilograms per boat per day) for each trawling fleet segment have been analysed, by comparing on a monthly basis the before (2007–2009) and after ban (2011–2013) period. The comparison was carried out considering total landings and the six main species targeted inside the three miles area (sand smelt, cuttlefish, red mullet, sole, turbot, and mantis shrimp). Within a general reduction of total landings, a differential effect based on the analysed métiers was detected, with small trawlers being more negatively affected than the large and rapido ones, which showed, for some species, positive impacts. From an ecological point of view, though, no positive overall effects were detected, probably due to the fact that the adopted measure is not sufficient to reduce the overexploitation. In any case, all this is affecting the structure of the small-scale fishery in the area, since small trawlers are changing métier, moving towards the artisanal fishery, with deep impacts on the very coastal area that the trawling ban was designated to protect, compromising all possible benefits.

Energy efficiency of Norwegian fisheries from 2003 to 2012

Operation of the Norwegian fishing fleet in harsh waters is energy demanding. The large amount of fuel consumption combined with the associated fuel costs, emission taxes, environmental concerns, and emission regulations call for improved energy efficiency within fisheries. This study examined the energy efficiency of the Norwegian fishing fleet from 2003 to 2012. The goal of this study was to determine the important statistical characteristics and to facilitate the development of future strategies to improve fuel efficiency. Data analysis was performed with R programme, an open source software for statistical computing. First, vessels with single gear were explored. Ten fleet segments within the demersal and pelagic fisheries were compared. Energy efficiency varied among the segments. Factory trawlers, with a mean fuel use coefficient of 0.354 kg fuel/kg fish, and coastal seiners, with a mean fuel use coefficient of 0.054–0.058 kg fuel/kg fish, were the least and most energy-efficient segments, respectively. Nevertheless, the energy efficiencies of all of the segments have improved over recent years. The effects of catch per unit of fishing effort, total stock biomass, fish quota, and fuel price on energy efficiency were explored for factory trawlers. Correlations between energy efficiency and these factors were found. Fluctuations in energy efficiency were primarily due to changes in fish abundance and availability. Energy efficiency and fuel price showed the weakest long-term correlation. Little evidence of technological improvements, which affect energy efficiency, was found either. Second, the effect of employing multiple gears was explored. Coastal seiners, conventional vessels, and purse seiners with single gear were compared with corresponding vessels with multiple gears. Employing other gears in addition to seine on coastal seiners rendered them less efficient, as the additional gear (e.g., trawl) was more energy demanding. The opposite was observed for conventional vessels: using more efficient gears (e.g., seine) in combination with the main gear made conventional vessels more energy-efficient. Purse seiners with multiple gears used trawl to catch blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou); therefore, the efficiency of the trawl was affected by the fluctuations in blue whiting catch and abundance during the years. The energy efficiency of fisheries may be improved by inclusion of energy efficiency in political goals, improvement in fish stocks, better allocation of quotas, and imposition of fuel and emission taxes. Energy efficiency can be further improved by the introduction of energy-saving technologies and alternative fuel systems.

Defining fishing spatial strategies from VMS data: Insights from the world's largest monospecific fishery

Understanding the spatiotemporal behavior of fishermen at the fleet scale is key for defining effective strategies for fisheries management. Here we classify the spatial patterns exhibited by fishing trip trajectories in the world's largest monospecific fishery, the Peruvian anchovy fishery. Our goal is to identify spatial strategies and their possible changes over 2000–2009. The data comprise more than 350,000 fishing trips, recorded using a vessel monitoring system. On-board observers monitored a small fraction of those trips (>2000), providing data for inferring the type of activity (fishing, searching, and cruising) from the position records, for use in a state-space model. Each fishing trip was characterized by its duration, maximum distance to the coast, geographical extension, and time spent fishing, searching and cruising. Using clustering techniques, we identified four types of fishing trips, associated with differences in management among regions, fleet segments, and skippers’ behavior. The methodology could be used to investigate fishing spatial strategies using VMS trajectories in other fisheries.

Assessment of balance indicators for key fleet segments and review of national reports on member states efforts to achieve balance between fleet capacity and fishing opportunities (STECF-15-02)

The Expert Working Group meeting of the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries EWG-13-16 on Review of national reports on Member States efforts to achieve balance between fleet capacity and fishing opportunities was from September 29 – October 4, 2013 in Edinburgh. The report was reviewed and endorsed by the STECF during its plenary meeting held from4 to 8 November 2013 in Brussels (Belgium). How to obtain EU publications Our priced publications are available from EU Bookshop (http://bookshop.europa.eu), where you can place an order with the sales agent of your choice. The Publications Office has a worldwide network of sales agents. You can obtain their contact details bysending a fax to (352) 29 29-42758. L B -N A -2340-E N -N As the Commission’s in-house science service, the Joint Research Centre’s mission is to provide EU policies with independent, evidence-based scientific and technical support throughout the whole policy cycle. Working in close cooperation with policy Directorates-General, the JRC addresses key societal challenges while stimulating innovation through developing new standards, methods and tools, and sharing and transferring its know-how to the Member States and international community. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) has been established by the European Commission. The STECF is being consulted at regular intervals on matters pertaining to the conservation and management of living aquatic resources, including biological, economic, environmental, social and technical considerations.

Modelling fishers' response to discard prevention strategies: the case of the North Sea saithe fishery

Abstract Designing effective management plans requires understanding fishers' behaviour under that plan, because fishers change their behaviour in response to economic and management incentives, which in turn will lead to different fishery outcomes. This study presents a modelling framework for management strategy evaluations which takes into account the response of fishers to management schemes. Based on the upcoming discard ban, two discard prevention strategies were tested for the North Sea saithe fishery, where fleet segments have either no or a generally low quota for cod. Costs and benefits were assessed under the current management, a non-flexible system, where fleet segments had to stop fishing once the cod quota was reached and a flexible system where quota of saithe could be used to cover over-quota catch of cod at a ratio 1:5. The flexible scenario was beneficial both in protecting the North Sea saithe and cod stock and in increasing net profits of fleet segments in the long term. The avoidance behaviour of fleet segments to over-quota catch led to a high SSB level of saithe and cod in the long term, ensuring high long-term catches and profits. A non-flexible scenario had a negative impact on the saithe stock, because mainly juvenile saithe before spawning were caught reducing the spawning-stock biomass in the longer term. A non-flexible scenario was costly in terms of up to 29% lower net profits for individual fleet segments generating little economic incentive to be compliant.

Combining area closures with catch regulations in fisheries with spatio-temporal variation: Bio-economic implications for the North Sea saithe fishery

Although there exists an EU-Norway long-term management plan for North Sea saithe, including a catch regulation, the spawning stock biomass has declined in the last few years, recruitment has been below average since 2006 and growth rates are low. Moreover, catch rates used as a proxy of stock abundance in stock assessment, are believed to decline much more slowly than the actual stock abundance. Thus, a quota-based system may not be sufficient to sustain the stock. A bio-economic simulation and optimisation model was used to explore how various area closures in combination with the quota-system affect levels of by-catch, net profit of individual fleet segments from different ports, and stock development in that fishery. Tested area closures differed in duration, size and location relative to major ports and to seasonal movement patterns of species. These closures were tested under variable recruitment. Area closures that were covering the seasonal migration route of saithe revealed almost two times greater increases in spawning stock biomass than closures that were not covering the migration route. Even area closures where a high dispersal rate of individuals was assumed resulted in increased spawning stock biomass of saithe. Benefits of the tested area closures were distributed heterogeneously among individual fleet segments. Increases of saithe stock size were offset by increases in cod by-catch. The location of an area closure relative to the home port of fleet segments decided if steaming costs increased and catches decreased.

Modelling fuel consumption of fishing vessels for predictive use

Abstract Fuel costs are an important element in models used to analyse and predict fisher behaviour for application within the wider mixed fisheries and ecosystem approaches to management. This investigation explored the predictive capability of linear and generalized additive models (GAMs) in providing daily fuel consumption estimates for fishing vessels given knowledge of their length, engine power, fleet segment (annual dominant gear type), and fuel prices. Models were fitted to half of the Irish fishing vessel economic data collected between 2003 and 2011. The predictive capabilities of the seven best models were validated against the remaining, previously un-modelled, data. The type of gear used by a fleet segment had an important influence on fuel consumption as did the price of fuel. The passive pot gear and Scottish seine gear segments indicated consistently lower consumptions, whereas dredge and pelagic gears showed consistently higher fuel consumptions. Furthermore, increasing fuel price negatively affected fuel consumption, especially for more powerful, larger vessels. Of the formulated models, the best fit to training data were a GAM with a gear main effect and two smooth functions; standardized vessel length and engine power interacting with fuel price. For prediction, overall, this model showed the closest predictions with the least bias, followed by three linear models. However, all seven models compared for predictive capability performed well for the most sampled segments (demersal and pelagic trawlers).

A short-term economic assessment of incentivised selective gears

An economic analysis of the impact of introducing more selective fishing gears and how their uptake is incentivised is carried out. The study focusses on some of the selective gears and the additional fishing opportunities used to encourage their uptake that are available as part of the Scottish Conservation Credit Scheme, which was set up to support the EU cod (Gadus morhua) recovery plan. We first demonstrate that the classification of the gears in the scheme is appropriate in relation to how they select for cod. We then evaluate the short-term direct and indirect financial impacts related with the different gear options. The analysis is carried out in relation to five different fleet segments of the Scottish whitefish fleet which are identified on the basis of the vessel size, engine power and gear fished and shows that with appropriate incentives, it is possible to introduce more selective gears without reducing profitability. The degree to which this can be achieved, however, will vary by fleet segment and will depend on the incentives on offer, the catch composition of the economically important species and the selective performance of the modified gear over this range of species. We also demonstrate that what incentivises one segment may not encourage another.

Integrating stochastic age-structured population dynamics into complex fisheries economic models for management evaluations: the North Sea saithe fishery as a case study

There is growing interest in bioeconomic models as tools for understanding pathways of fishery behaviour in order to assess the impact of alternative policies on natural resources. A model system is presented that combines stochastic age-structured population dynamics with complex fisheries economics. Explicitly, the economic response of fleet segments to changes in stock development is analysed by applying observed values and stochastic recruitment. The optimization of net profits determines the fishing effort and the investment and disinvestment behaviour of fleet segments, which, in turn, affect the level of catch rates and discards. This tool was applied to the North Sea saithe fishery, where ICES re-evaluated the existing EU–Norway management plan, focusing on biological reference points only. Two scenarios were tested with alternative harvest control rules and then contrasted with one unregulated scenario with no quotas and driven by optimizing the net profit of the whole fleet. The model showed the success of both harvest control rules in rebuilding the stock and the associated costs to the fleets in terms of maximal 21% reduction in net profits, 21% reduction in crew wages and 11% reduction in fleet size in the midterm (2007–2015). In the long term (2022), successful stock recovery coincided with net profits almost equalling that of the unrestricted fishery. The model is highly sensitive to the parameter values but can be used strategically, providing a qualitative understanding of the anticipated relative changes.

Eco-efficiency assessment of the Peruvian anchoveta steel and wooden fleets using the LCA+DEA framework

Abstract The Peruvian anchoveta fishery is currently targeted by a large fleet featuring a wide range of vessel sizes (segments), with highly variable capacities. In addition, the landings of the industrial fleet are used exclusively by the reduction industry, while those performed by small- and medium-scale vessels are destined mainly for direct human consumption. Despite these differences, the entire fleet is made up of purse seiners that perform similar operations when at sea. Therefore, the main aim of this study is to identify the differences in eco-efficiency between the different fleet segments in order to delve into the potential environmental improvements that could be attained through operational benchmarking. To this end, the combined use of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) was applied to the Peruvian anchoveta fleet. More specifically, a modified 5-step LCA + DEA method, whose particularities are broadly discussed throughout the study, was computed to obtain the desired operational benchmarks and, thereafter, estimate the target environmental gains. Results led to an average efficiency score of 86% throughout the segments, with a total of eight fleet segments out of 13 (62%) operating inefficiently. Nevertheless, no clear pattern was identified through the segments, although certain correlations with stock abundance, fuel use intensity, overcapacity and climatic conditions are discussed. Reduction in material inputs based on operational benchmarks translated into environmental gains that ranged from 26% to 53% for inefficient segments. Finally, it is expected that the findings in this study may aid stakeholders and policy makers when revising fuel use optimisation and overcapacity management strategies.

Modelling the spatio-temporal interplay between North Sea saithe (Pollachius virens) and multiple fleet segments for management evaluation

There is growing interest in bio-economic models as tools for understanding pathways of fishery behaviour, in order to assess the impact on natural resources. Based on ‘FishRent’, a modelling approach is presented that integrates economics of the fleet, the impact of fishing on stock development and their spatio-temporal interplay. The simulation of species seasonal movements in combination with both observed values and stochastic recruitment allowed analysing the economic response of fleet segments to changes in stock distribution and development. Optimisation of net profits determines the effort adjustment and spatial allocation of fleet segments, which in turn affects the level of catch rates. Effort tended to concentrate where fish abundance was high, but also where fishing costs were low. In simulations with the current management plan spawning stock of North Sea saithe (Pollachius virens) declined below its precautionary reference point. In response fishing far from home ports became expensive and 40% of the initial effort was shifted to areas closer to home ports, but as areas of high fish concentrations were located by the modelled fleet segments catch rates remained high. Changes in seasonal/annual stock distribution, the stock decline and costs influenced the change in fishing effort distributions leading to overestimated catch per unit of effort values that masked the decline of stock abundance.

Fishers' targeting behaviour in Mediterranean: does vessel size matter?

AbstractFishers have a considerable knowledge about how fish stocks behave; knowledge that is difficult to acquire in other ways. Short‐term fisher tactics employed on trip by trip basis can change significantly due to their targeting behaviour, which in turn can lead to changes in catch composition and production output. A stochastic distance function was used to examine a Mediterranean pelagic fleet's technical efficiency and fishers' ability to modulate their targeting behaviour. The purse seine fleet operated under increasing returns to scale, suggesting that the larger vessels could potentially amplify their short‐term profitability by increasing the levels of inputs and harvests. Production was mainly joint, yet the possibility for limited substitution between species existed. The observed fishers' targeting behaviour was dissimilar between fleet segments due to differences in fishing effort and vessel characteristics, with larger vessels able to modify their revenue more than smaller ones. The estimated differences between the two fleet segments could be important in designing effective management regimes aimed at reducing resource overexploitation through individual input controls.

Implications of Quota Reallocation in the Torres Strait Tropical Rock Lobster Fishery

The Torres Strait Tropical Rock Lobster Fishery is exploited by a mix of Islander and non‐Islander fishers. While the former group dominates in terms of numbers of fishers, a disproportionate share of the nominal quota is held by the substantially smaller non‐Islander fleet. In 2011, the nominal quota allocation was 54:46 between Islanders and non‐Islander, with the Islander share increasing substantially since 2005 through a buy‐back of around half the non‐Islander fleet. Despite this increase, there is pressure within the Islander communities to further increase their share of the total quota. In this paper, we consider the relative value of a unit of quota to the Islander and non‐Islander fleets and the likely impact this will have on potential quota trade. We estimate production frontiers for the two groups of vessels to derive estimates of the marginal value product of the different fleet segments. From this, we determine if there are efficiency arguments for transferring additional quota to the Islander fleet. We conclude that economic incentives for individual Islanders to purchase quota from non‐Islanders are limited, and that some other form of reallocation system may be more successful in achieving the objective of an increased quota share to Islanders.

EcoTroph: a simple model to assess fishery interactions and their impacts on ecosystems

Abstract Gasche, L., and Gascuel, D. 2013. EcoTroph: a simple model to assess fishery interactions and their impacts on ecosystems – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 70: 498–510. The EcoTroph model leaves aside the notion of species, and models the functioning of marine ecosystems as flows of biomass from low to high trophic levels, so as to quantify easily the impacts of fishing at an ecosystem scale. In this paper, based on two case studies we present a new development of the EcoTroph model that is devoted to the analysis of fishery interactions and impacts of fleet segments on ecosystems. First, deriving an EcoTroph model from an Ecopath model of the Guinea ecosystem, the impacts of the artisanal fishery are distinguished from those of the industrial fishery. It appears that these fisheries do not always compete for the same fish groups but that they both strongly impact the ecosystem and moderately impact one another. Then, an EcoTroph model of the Southern Benguela ecosystem is set up, also based on a pre-existing Ecopath model. Two scenarios are simulated: a doubling in the fishing mortality of small pelagics and a doubling in the fishing mortality of hake. An increase in fishing mortality of small pelagics causes a strong decrease in biomass at all trophic levels of the ecosystem, confirming the pivotal role of these “wasp-waist” species in this ecosystem.

Effects of the fuel price crisis on the energy efficiency and the economic performance of the European Union fishing fleets

Recent fuel price increases, together with future scarcity of fossil fuels and pollution have raised awareness about the efficient use of energy. Expenditure on marine fuel represents a significant component of the operational costs of the fishing fleets and, as a result, the profitability of the fishing fleets is very sensitive to fuel price variations. By assembling data from 54 fishing fleets around Europe, representing one fourth of the European Union (EU) fishing fleet in terms of vessel numbers and one third in terms of the volume of landings, the effects of the fuel price increase on the economic performance and the energy efficiency of the EU fleet, were estimated for the period 2002–2008. Results demonstrate declining trends in the economic indicators through the years, with a 33% reduction in profitability of the fleets since the beginning of the study. Most energy efficiency indicators, which featured a deteriorating trend over time, have improved their performance after 2004, when the first fuel price increase of the period was observed. However, results do vary across fleet segments.

Measuring the adaptability of fleet segments to a fishing ban : the case of the Bay of Biscay anchovy fishery

While fishing resources available to fishermen are becoming increasingly scarce, management actions that regulate these resources are becoming more restrictive, to such an extent that some fisheries remain closed for years. The anchovy fishery in the Bay of Biscay, which was closed for 5 years, from 2005 to 2009, is one of the most important sources of revenue for the Basque pelagic purse-seiner fleet. Throughout the course of this closure the fleet was forced to find alternative revenue streams. In the present study, the fishing alternatives were analysed before and during the anchovy fishery closure, defining an adaptability indicator to measure the ability of the fleet to cope with fisheries closures. Four differently-behaved segments were found within the purse-seiner fleet. Only one of these segments managed to maintain the same level of turnover during the anchovy closure, while the others could not reach a minimum level of adaptability. Compensation of the fishery closure through financial aid was studied, analysing the impact that public aid had on the profit of each segment and on the adaptability indicator.

Lessons for fisheries management from the EU cod recovery plan

The performance of the EU long-term management plan for cod stocks, in force since 2009, is analysed focusing on the human and institutional factors. The plan operates through landings quotas (TACs) and effort restrictions following a Harvest Control Rule, and deploys a novel instrument allowing Member States to ‘buy back’ or increase fishing effort for fleet segments engaged in cod-avoidance measures. The stipulated fishing mortality reductions have not been achieved. On the positive side, the ‘buy-back’ instrument has led to increased uptake of selective gear and implementation of permanent and real-time temporary closures. On the negative side, ignoring the dimension of fishers as reactive agents in the design, the impact assessment, and the annual implementation of the measures has contributed to the failure to adequately implement the plan and achieve its objectives. The main problem is that the landings quotas taken in a mixed fishery did not limit catches because fishers were incentivised to continue fishing and discard overquota catch while quota for other species was available. The effort limitations intended to reduce this effect were insufficient to adequately limit fishing mortality in targeted fisheries, although fishers experienced them as prohibiting the full uptake of other quotas. Recommendations for future plans include (i) management through catch rather than landings quotas, (ii) the internalisation of the costs of exceeding quotas, (iii) use of more selective gear types, (iv) the development of appropriate metrics as a basis for regulatory measures and for evaluations, (v) participatory governance, (vi) fishery-based management, (vii) flexibility in fishing strategy at vessel level.

The perceptions of fisheries management options by Spain's Atlantic fishermen

This paper analyses the perceptions of Spanish fishermen working in Atlantic fishing grounds on current fishery regulation measures and the possibility of introducing transferable rights as is established in the EC's latest proposal to reform the Common Fisheries Policy. A survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews and ordered logistic and multiple regression models to identify which characteristics influence fishermen's perceptions and attitudes. The results show that the fleet segments most in favour of implementing ITQs correspond to industrial fishing, while the smaller-scale fisheries (artisanal, gillnets, longline and coastal trawl) are more in favour of a system involving individual effort (fishing days or kW days), transferable or otherwise.

Towards the implementation of an integrated ecosystem fleet-based management of European fisheries

Using the Celtic Sea and the North Sea as case studies, the fleet-based approach is shown to be the pathway to implement an effective ecosystem approach to fisheries management (EAFM) in European seas. First, a diagnostic on the health of each ecosystem is proposed based on the reconstruction of long time-series of catch, the analysis of mean indicators or stocks trajectories derived from ICES stock assessment results, and the analysis of ecosystem indicators. Then, a fleet-based synthesis is presented using indicators of both the ecological impact and the economic performances of the major fleets operating within each ecosystem. In particular, assessment diagrams show whether each fleet segment, on average, sustainably exploits the stocks. Although results are preliminary due to the poor quality of available data, the analysis shows that simple indicators can be estimated and clearly highlight contrasts between fleet segments. Such an approach contributes to the evolution from a stock-based to a fleet-based management, which reflects the ecological, economical and social pillars of the sustainable development of fisheries.