Use of an Exempted Fishing Permit to Test a Discard Reduction Strategy for the Deepwater Complex Trawl Fishery, Information Report 2004-03

Identification Information

Citation

Originator: Hannah, Robert W. and Steven J. Parker

Publish Date: August 2004

Online Link: None

BPA Project #:

Contact Information

Agency: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Name: Cedric Cooney

Job Position: Natural Resources Data and Systems Manager

Telephone: 503-947-6094

E-Mail Address: cedric.x.cooney@odfw.oregon.gov

Description

Abstract: The U.S. west coast groundfish trawl fishery is currently managed using monthly or bimonthly cumulative landing limits. The choice of this management system, as opposed to an “olympic style” quota management system, is based on the benefits of providing a year round flow of fish products to processing plants. One of the main disadvantages of this system is that in some instances, the limits can cause high “regulatory discard”. The term “regulatory discard” refers to marketable fish that are discarded only because the cumulative landing limit for that species has been met. The other primary types of discard would be “market discard” and discard of prohibited species. Market discard refers to fish that are discarded because they are not marketable, sometimes due to the species type, small size or flesh quality or because of a landing limit set by processing plants. In choosing limit-based management, fishery managers assume that vessel operators have some ability to target particular species for harvest. They assume that after a limit is met for one species, further fishing can effectively target other species. Considering a broad range of species, it is unquestionable that vessel operators can use a variety of strategies to effectively target some specific stocks. This is especially true for species with specific habitat preferences, such as pelagic Pacific hake (Merluccius productus). It’s also true for species with very specific depth preferences such as starry flounder (Platichthys stellatus) or sand sole (Psettichthys melanosticus), which are captured in very shallow water. However, for many of the wide variety of species encountered in the west coast groundfish trawl fishery, the targeting ability of fishing vessels is poorly understood. Moreover, while the ability of any vessel to effectively target a particular species may be high, the factors influencing the vessel operator's decision to target a particular species are poorly understood. Clearly a variety of economic factors must influence this decision, including travel costs to different grounds, time spent to adjust gear and time spent sorting the catch, to name a few. At times, vessel operators may examine these tradeoffs when a catch limit is met and simply choose to continue to fish the same way and discard fish as needed to stay within allowable limits. Accordingly, efforts to reduce regulatory discard must take into account both the targeting ability of a trawl fleet as well as the economic costs and incentives that influence their fishing decisions.

Purpose:

Time Period of Content:

Geographic Extent: Oregon

Status: Final

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Format: PDF file

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Is a physical copy maintained for reference at Headquarters? No