Publication Abstract

Costs and benefits of bycatch reduction devices in European brown shrimp trawl fisheries

S. Pascoe and A. Revill

Discarding of juvenile fish is a well recognised problem in shrimp fisheries. In many cases, these fish are commercial species that, if not caught, could increase the productivity of other fisheries. By January 2003, legislation was enacted by all Member States requiring all fishers in European Crangon (brown shrimp) fisheries to use selective gear that reduces the incidental bycatch of juvenile commercial species. In doing so, however, the catch rate of the target species (the shrimp) is likely to be reduced. In this paper, we use a bioeconomic model to assess the impact of bycatch reduction devices on fishing effort, catch and profitability in the European Crangon fisheries. The potential benefits (in terms of higher future yields and consequently higher profits) to the white-fish fisheries are also estimated. From the model results, the regulation is expected to result in a net reduction in the profitability of the shrimp fishers. However, the benefits to the white-fish fishers is expected to more than offset this cost, resulting in an overall net benefit.

Reference:

S. Pascoe and A. Revill (2004) Costs and benefits of bycatch reduction devices in European brown shrimp trawl fisheries. Environmental and Resouce Economics, 27(1): 43-64