A cost–benefit analysis of improving trawl selectivity in the case of discards: The Nephrops norvegicus fishery in the Bay of Biscay

Claire Macher (), Olivier Guyader (), Catherine Talidec () and M. Bertignac ()
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Claire Macher: AMURE - Aménagement des Usages des Ressources et des Espaces marins et littoraux - Centre de droit et d'économie de la mer - IFREMER - Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer - UBO - Université de Brest - IUEM - Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - INSU - CNRS - Institut national des sciences de l'Univers - UBO - Université de Brest - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Olivier Guyader: AMURE - Aménagement des Usages des Ressources et des Espaces marins et littoraux - Centre de droit et d'économie de la mer - IFREMER - Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer - UBO - Université de Brest - IUEM - Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - INSU - CNRS - Institut national des sciences de l'Univers - UBO - Université de Brest - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Catherine Talidec: LRHLR - Laboratoire Ressources Halieutiques La Rochelle-L'Houmeau - HGS - Unité Halieutique Gascogne Sud - IFREMER - Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer
M. Bertignac: STH - Unité Sciences et Technologies Halieutiques - IFREMER - Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer

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Abstract: The Nephrops trawl fishery is one of the most important fisheries in the Bay of Biscay. The fishery management essentially relies on conservation measures, a total allowed catch (TAC) for Nephrops together with a minimum landing size (MLS) and minimum trawl mesh size (70 mm stretched mesh). These measures have failed to prevent high discard levels of many species that characterize the fishery. Nephrops trawlers thus discard about half of their Nephrops catches in numbers (a third in weight) of which only 30% survive. Nephrops discards mainly occur in younger Nephrops age groups below the MLS. This is a waste for the already overexploited Nephrops stock as well as for the fleet. Based on a bio-economic simulation model, the paper analyses the consequences of several scenarios of improving Nephrops selectivity. The potential impacts of these scenarios on Nephrops biomass, landings, discards and economic indicators (e.g. rent) are examined and a cost–benefit analysis of each scenario is carried out. We show that a better exploitation pattern would benefit fisheries that have high level of discards. Reducing non-commercial Nephrops discards leads to positive net present values of rent with better value realized from the production potential and limited short-term losses for the fishing units. By taking account of the economic dynamics of increasing effort however, we show that selectivity measures are insufficient. Regulating access to the fishery is also required to ensure the sustainability of the fishery and a better exploitation of the production potential.

Keywords: Nephrops norvegicus; Cost–benefit analysis; Selectivity; Bio-economic simulations; Discards; Fisheries management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008-01-06
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

Published in Fisheries Research, 2008, 92 (1), pp.76-89. ⟨10.1016/j.fishres.2007.12.021⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-00359860

DOI: 10.1016/j.fishres.2007.12.021

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