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• 1. [Article] Using Socio-Economic and Fisheries Involvement Indices to Understand Alaska Fishing Community Well-Being

  Over recent years, fisheries managers have been going through a paradigm shift to prioritize ecosystem-based management. With this comes an increasing need to better understand the impacts of fisheries ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Using Socio-Economic and Fisheries Involvement Indices to Understand Alaska Fishing Community Well-Being Author: Kasperski, Stephen, Himes-Cornell, Amber Over recent years, fisheries managers have been going through a paradigm shift to prioritize ecosystem-based management. With this comes an increasing need to better understand the impacts of fisheries management decisions on the social well-being and sustainability of fishing communities. This paper summarizes research aimed at using secondary data to develop socio-economic and fisheries-dependence indices to measure fishing community well-being in Alaska. Data from more than 300 communities in Alaska were used to create a database of socio-economic and fisheries dependence indices of well-being and adaptability for Alaskan communities dependent on marine resources. Each index was developed using a principal components analysis to assess the relative position of each community compared to all other communities in Alaska. We find that creating performance measures, such as the indices presented here, in fisheries provides a useful way to track the status of important fisheries and social variables over time. Title: Using Socio-Economic and Fisheries Involvement Indices to Understand Alaska Fishing Community Well-Being Author: Kasperski, Stephen, Himes-Cornell, Amber Over recent years, fisheries managers have been going through a paradigm shift to prioritize ecosystem-based management. With this comes an increasing need to better understand the impacts of fisheries management decisions on the social well-being and sustainability of fishing communities. This paper summarizes research aimed at using secondary data to develop socio-economic and fisheries-dependence indices to measure fishing community well-being in Alaska. Data from more than 300 communities in Alaska were used to create a database of socio-economic and fisheries dependence indices of well-being and adaptability for Alaskan communities dependent on marine resources. Each index was developed using a principal components analysis to assess the relative position of each community compared to all other communities in Alaska. We find that creating performance measures, such as the indices presented here, in fisheries provides a useful way to track the status of important fisheries and social variables over time. Close

• 2. [Article] A Mixed Methods Approach to Analyzing Vietnamese American Fishing Communities on the Gulf of Mexico

  As fisheries management becomes more collaborative by seeking input and involvement from stakeholders, it is important to understand and address the diversity of those stakeholders. Gulf Coast fisheries ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: A Mixed Methods Approach to Analyzing Vietnamese American Fishing Communities on the Gulf of Mexico Author: Schewe, Rebecca Lynn, Shoup, Brian Dale, Witt, Joseph Dylan, Hoffman, David Michael, Freeman, Matthew Alan As fisheries management becomes more collaborative by seeking input and involvement from stakeholders, it is important to understand and address the diversity of those stakeholders. Gulf Coast fisheries communities include diverse racial and ethnic groups, particularly a large number of Vietnamese Americans involved in all aspects of the seafood industry. Recent disasters, including hurricanes and the BP Macondo oil spill, have exposed a number of communication barriers between state and federal agencies and the Vietnamese American fishing community on the Gulf Coast as well as a lack of reliable socioeconomic data on Vietnamese American fishers and their management and governance priorities. This research focuses on a mixed methods approach to create a database of key baseline socioeconomic data on the Vietnamese American communities affected by fishery management in Mississippi and Alabama and as well as to identify avenues and barriers for communication between Vietnamese American fishers and state and federal fisheries-related agencies in the region. In doing so, we discuss using a combination of 1) face-to-face surveys with Vietnamese Americans in the fishing industry, 2) interviews with representatives of relevant state and federal agencies, 3) interviews with community organizations and key informants, and 4) focus groups with Vietnamese Americans in different aspects of the fishing industry. Collection of this type of data will be used in identifying potential strategies to improve engagement of Vietnamese American stakeholders in the region and be crucial to understand the current and future consequences of management choices for diverse stakeholders. Title: A Mixed Methods Approach to Analyzing Vietnamese American Fishing Communities on the Gulf of Mexico Author: Schewe, Rebecca Lynn, Shoup, Brian Dale, Witt, Joseph Dylan, Hoffman, David Michael, Freeman, Matthew Alan As fisheries management becomes more collaborative by seeking input and involvement from stakeholders, it is important to understand and address the diversity of those stakeholders. Gulf Coast fisheries communities include diverse racial and ethnic groups, particularly a large number of Vietnamese Americans involved in all aspects of the seafood industry. Recent disasters, including hurricanes and the BP Macondo oil spill, have exposed a number of communication barriers between state and federal agencies and the Vietnamese American fishing community on the Gulf Coast as well as a lack of reliable socioeconomic data on Vietnamese American fishers and their management and governance priorities. This research focuses on a mixed methods approach to create a database of key baseline socioeconomic data on the Vietnamese American communities affected by fishery management in Mississippi and Alabama and as well as to identify avenues and barriers for communication between Vietnamese American fishers and state and federal fisheries-related agencies in the region. In doing so, we discuss using a combination of 1) face-to-face surveys with Vietnamese Americans in the fishing industry, 2) interviews with representatives of relevant state and federal agencies, 3) interviews with community organizations and key informants, and 4) focus groups with Vietnamese Americans in different aspects of the fishing industry. Collection of this type of data will be used in identifying potential strategies to improve engagement of Vietnamese American stakeholders in the region and be crucial to understand the current and future consequences of management choices for diverse stakeholders. Close

• 3. [Article] How can Community-Based Management Improve an Outcome? The Effects of Revenue Sharing and Social Capital in a Fishery

  We empirically disentangle the efficiency mechanism of revenue sharing, in which a group of harvesters shares catch and/or revenue among members of a fishery cooperative, by incorporating the influence ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: How can Community-Based Management Improve an Outcome? The Effects of Revenue Sharing and Social Capital in a Fishery Author: Anderson, Christopher M., Uchida, Hirotsugu, Tegawa, Mihoko We empirically disentangle the efficiency mechanism of revenue sharing, in which a group of harvesters shares catch and/or revenue among members of a fishery cooperative, by incorporating the influence of social capital. In addition to each of revenue sharing and social capital influencing a fishery independently we hypothesize social capital potentially affecting the efficiency that revenue sharing brings through strengthening collective fishing efforts performed as a group. This paper provides the first rigorous analysis to measure the effect of revenue sharing and social capital in a co-managed fishery and to identify the mechanism through which revenue sharing and social capital affect the outcome of a fishery. We quantified social capital using controlled economic experiments with fisherman subjects. Using a panel dataset containing 10 fishery groups and random-effects model with wild cluster bootstrap for small sample inference, we find evidence of the long-run positive effect of trust in a community on an economic outcome. The results also show that the fisheries with fishers having similar information network size achieve better stock conditions over time. However, we find no robust evidence of the effect of revenue sharing directly improving an outcome in a fishery or the effect of both revenue sharing and social capital interacting to affect the fishery or its management outcomes. Title: How can Community-Based Management Improve an Outcome? The Effects of Revenue Sharing and Social Capital in a Fishery Author: Anderson, Christopher M., Uchida, Hirotsugu, Tegawa, Mihoko We empirically disentangle the efficiency mechanism of revenue sharing, in which a group of harvesters shares catch and/or revenue among members of a fishery cooperative, by incorporating the influence of social capital. In addition to each of revenue sharing and social capital influencing a fishery independently we hypothesize social capital potentially affecting the efficiency that revenue sharing brings through strengthening collective fishing efforts performed as a group. This paper provides the first rigorous analysis to measure the effect of revenue sharing and social capital in a co-managed fishery and to identify the mechanism through which revenue sharing and social capital affect the outcome of a fishery. We quantified social capital using controlled economic experiments with fisherman subjects. Using a panel dataset containing 10 fishery groups and random-effects model with wild cluster bootstrap for small sample inference, we find evidence of the long-run positive effect of trust in a community on an economic outcome. The results also show that the fisheries with fishers having similar information network size achieve better stock conditions over time. However, we find no robust evidence of the effect of revenue sharing directly improving an outcome in a fishery or the effect of both revenue sharing and social capital interacting to affect the fishery or its management outcomes. Close

• 4. [Article] Maintaining the Viability of Seafood Processing and Harvesting Industries in Coastal Alaska: Role of Marine Extension

  Alaska is the largest seafood producing state in the US. In 2013, Alaska landed 1.88 billion USD worth of seafood, with a volume of 2.63 million MT. This consists of 34% of the total value and 60% of the ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Maintaining the Viability of Seafood Processing and Harvesting Industries in Coastal Alaska: Role of Marine Extension Author: Fong, Quentin Alaska is the largest seafood producing state in the US. In 2013, Alaska landed 1.88 billion USD worth of seafood, with a volume of 2.63 million MT. This consists of 34% of the total value and 60% of the total volume landed in the US. Of the top 20 fishing port landing by value, 11 are from Alaska. Alaska’s seafood industry directly employs more workers than any other industry sector with more than 60,000. The success of the seafood industry is vital to our coastal communities. In response to employers and stakeholders concern of the graying or increasing age of the workforce, the Alaska Maritime Workforce Development Plan was developed by representatives of the fisheries, seafood, and marine industry sectors, state agencies and the university in Alaska. Aside from workforce development, stakeholders and policy makers also recognize the need for business and entrepreneurship development, including seafood to sustain the economic viability of our fisheries/seafood dependent coastal communities. This presentation illustrates how marine extension, specifically the Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program and the Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center assist Alaska’s seafood harvesting and processing sectors to maintain their viability in the global seafood marketplace. Training programs such as the Alaska Seafood Processor Institute, Seafood Processor Quality Control to address the graying of the workforce, research programs such as co-product development to increase the total value of the catch, and service programs such as one-on-one business and market development consultations will be presented and discussed. Title: Maintaining the Viability of Seafood Processing and Harvesting Industries in Coastal Alaska: Role of Marine Extension Author: Fong, Quentin Alaska is the largest seafood producing state in the US. In 2013, Alaska landed 1.88 billion USD worth of seafood, with a volume of 2.63 million MT. This consists of 34% of the total value and 60% of the total volume landed in the US. Of the top 20 fishing port landing by value, 11 are from Alaska. Alaska’s seafood industry directly employs more workers than any other industry sector with more than 60,000. The success of the seafood industry is vital to our coastal communities. In response to employers and stakeholders concern of the graying or increasing age of the workforce, the Alaska Maritime Workforce Development Plan was developed by representatives of the fisheries, seafood, and marine industry sectors, state agencies and the university in Alaska. Aside from workforce development, stakeholders and policy makers also recognize the need for business and entrepreneurship development, including seafood to sustain the economic viability of our fisheries/seafood dependent coastal communities. This presentation illustrates how marine extension, specifically the Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program and the Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center assist Alaska’s seafood harvesting and processing sectors to maintain their viability in the global seafood marketplace. Training programs such as the Alaska Seafood Processor Institute, Seafood Processor Quality Control to address the graying of the workforce, research programs such as co-product development to increase the total value of the catch, and service programs such as one-on-one business and market development consultations will be presented and discussed. Close

• 5. [Article] Social Class Differentiations and the Regulation of Coastal Resources in New Zealand

  Indigenous fishing rights are partially recognized via allocation of commercial quota rights to tribes. Concern exists, however, that the allocation of commercial quota rights to indigenous groups without ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Social Class Differentiations and the Regulation of Coastal Resources in New Zealand Author: Bodwitch, Hekia Indigenous fishing rights are partially recognized via allocation of commercial quota rights to tribes. Concern exists, however, that the allocation of commercial quota rights to indigenous groups without restrictions on how the benefits from quota holdings can be allocated and exchanged will lead to class segregation within indigenous groups. Scholars writing about indigenous fishing rights in New Zealand, where tribal quota ownership and exchange is less regulated than in North America, have expressed concern that a “tribal capitalism” is emerging, whereby tribal elites accumulate wealth at the expense of local fishers, ostensibly the intended beneficiaries of tribal quota holdings. This paper examines the extent to which exchange of quota and coastal resources influences social class differentiation in New Zealand’s South Island, home to some of the nation’s most economically productive Maori fishing enterprises. Drawing on ethnographic data, it becomes clear that tribal quota holdings are not the driver effecting how benefits from resources are distributed. Rather, differential regulation between upstream and downstream coastal resources effects how wealth is accumulated in the watershed, patterns that largely fall along racial lines. Those who own private property, primarily non-Maori, are less regulated in their wealth accumulation than Maori who historically were pushed to the coasts, historic injustices indigenous fishing rights are designed to address. This analysis refocuses responsibility away from indigenous communities and onto the government’s regulatory practices, indicating that upstream regulation, as opposed to additional restrictions on tribal resource rights, will likely lead to more equitable distribution of coastal resource benefits. Title: Social Class Differentiations and the Regulation of Coastal Resources in New Zealand Author: Bodwitch, Hekia Indigenous fishing rights are partially recognized via allocation of commercial quota rights to tribes. Concern exists, however, that the allocation of commercial quota rights to indigenous groups without restrictions on how the benefits from quota holdings can be allocated and exchanged will lead to class segregation within indigenous groups. Scholars writing about indigenous fishing rights in New Zealand, where tribal quota ownership and exchange is less regulated than in North America, have expressed concern that a “tribal capitalism” is emerging, whereby tribal elites accumulate wealth at the expense of local fishers, ostensibly the intended beneficiaries of tribal quota holdings. This paper examines the extent to which exchange of quota and coastal resources influences social class differentiation in New Zealand’s South Island, home to some of the nation’s most economically productive Maori fishing enterprises. Drawing on ethnographic data, it becomes clear that tribal quota holdings are not the driver effecting how benefits from resources are distributed. Rather, differential regulation between upstream and downstream coastal resources effects how wealth is accumulated in the watershed, patterns that largely fall along racial lines. Those who own private property, primarily non-Maori, are less regulated in their wealth accumulation than Maori who historically were pushed to the coasts, historic injustices indigenous fishing rights are designed to address. This analysis refocuses responsibility away from indigenous communities and onto the government’s regulatory practices, indicating that upstream regulation, as opposed to additional restrictions on tribal resource rights, will likely lead to more equitable distribution of coastal resource benefits. Close

• 6. [Article] New England Commercial Ground-fishermen: Adaptation and Transition

  Fishing years 2012 -2013 brought declines in socio-economic performance for the Northeast groundfish fishery. Severe reductions in catch limits for key species such as Atlantic cod have constrained fishing ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: New England Commercial Ground-fishermen: Adaptation and Transition Author: Murphy, Tammy, Henry, Anna Fishing years 2012 -2013 brought declines in socio-economic performance for the Northeast groundfish fishery. Severe reductions in catch limits for key species such as Atlantic cod have constrained fishing behavior and declining groundfish revenues cannot be offset by non-groundfish revenues earned by the fleet. Little is known about the way groundfish fishermen are making decisions in response to changes in the fishery. We present results from approximately 60 ethnographic interviews with previously active groundfish fishermen who exited the fishery and current active participants who are considering transitioning out of the fishery. Interviews focused on level of participation in the groundfish fishery, changes since the implementation of catch shares and factors that have influenced decision-making around continued participation or exiting the groundfish fishery. The information collected suggests that adaptation strategies and impacts vary considerably with factors such as the fisherman’s age, initial quota allocation, level of debt, and presence of a second earner in the household. We develop a descriptive theory that characterizes actual choices being made currently by New England fishermen, with the goal of improving the ability to predict responses to future regulatory changes. Decision-making processes appear to differ from typical economic models used to analyze proposed regulatory actions. A richer understanding of these decision-making processes will lead to improved analysis of regulatory impacts. Title: New England Commercial Ground-fishermen: Adaptation and Transition Author: Murphy, Tammy, Henry, Anna Fishing years 2012 -2013 brought declines in socio-economic performance for the Northeast groundfish fishery. Severe reductions in catch limits for key species such as Atlantic cod have constrained fishing behavior and declining groundfish revenues cannot be offset by non-groundfish revenues earned by the fleet. Little is known about the way groundfish fishermen are making decisions in response to changes in the fishery. We present results from approximately 60 ethnographic interviews with previously active groundfish fishermen who exited the fishery and current active participants who are considering transitioning out of the fishery. Interviews focused on level of participation in the groundfish fishery, changes since the implementation of catch shares and factors that have influenced decision-making around continued participation or exiting the groundfish fishery. The information collected suggests that adaptation strategies and impacts vary considerably with factors such as the fisherman’s age, initial quota allocation, level of debt, and presence of a second earner in the household. We develop a descriptive theory that characterizes actual choices being made currently by New England fishermen, with the goal of improving the ability to predict responses to future regulatory changes. Decision-making processes appear to differ from typical economic models used to analyze proposed regulatory actions. A richer understanding of these decision-making processes will lead to improved analysis of regulatory impacts. Close

• 7. [Article] Measuring the Effects of Catch Shares: Identifying Indicators and Establishing Baselines along the West and Northeast Coasts

  The Measuring the Effects of Catch Shares Project is a webportal-based effort that continues to compile and analyze data on ecological, economic, social, and administrative changes in groundfish catch ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Measuring the Effects of Catch Shares: Identifying Indicators and Establishing Baselines along the West and Northeast Coasts Author: Downs, Michael A., Shug, Don, Hartley, Marcus, Weidlich, Stev The Measuring the Effects of Catch Shares Project is a webportal-based effort that continues to compile and analyze data on ecological, economic, social, and administrative changes in groundfish catch share fisheries on the West Coast and in the Northeast. The purpose of the five-year project is to make the best available data and accompanying analyses readily accessible to the general public as well as to those with specific interests the fisheries, including fishery managers, fishermen, policymakers, legislators, and service business owners. Among other data, the project presents information on six key economic and social indicators across both fisheries. This presentation describes the overall project, its goals, and initial findings. Specifically described are methodological considerations used in determining how and why a much larger number of potential indicators considered during project planning and initial baseline data gathering processes were winnowed down to the final key economic and social indicators. These considerations included the public availability of data, data accuracy, confidentiality, geographic coverage, and replicability, among others. Specifically underlined by the project findings is the importance of extended baseline time series data in placing potentially catch share-related changes in the context of longer-term fishery fluctuations and trends of change. Another preliminary conclusion is related to the challenges of confidentiality that severely restrict the analysis of changes at the sub-regional and/or port level, which is requiring implementation of additional methodologies in later stages of the project to address data gaps. Title: Measuring the Effects of Catch Shares: Identifying Indicators and Establishing Baselines along the West and Northeast Coasts Author: Downs, Michael A., Shug, Don, Hartley, Marcus, Weidlich, Stev The Measuring the Effects of Catch Shares Project is a webportal-based effort that continues to compile and analyze data on ecological, economic, social, and administrative changes in groundfish catch share fisheries on the West Coast and in the Northeast. The purpose of the five-year project is to make the best available data and accompanying analyses readily accessible to the general public as well as to those with specific interests the fisheries, including fishery managers, fishermen, policymakers, legislators, and service business owners. Among other data, the project presents information on six key economic and social indicators across both fisheries. This presentation describes the overall project, its goals, and initial findings. Specifically described are methodological considerations used in determining how and why a much larger number of potential indicators considered during project planning and initial baseline data gathering processes were winnowed down to the final key economic and social indicators. These considerations included the public availability of data, data accuracy, confidentiality, geographic coverage, and replicability, among others. Specifically underlined by the project findings is the importance of extended baseline time series data in placing potentially catch share-related changes in the context of longer-term fishery fluctuations and trends of change. Another preliminary conclusion is related to the challenges of confidentiality that severely restrict the analysis of changes at the sub-regional and/or port level, which is requiring implementation of additional methodologies in later stages of the project to address data gaps. Close

• 8. [Article] Cost and Earnings in the Alaska Saltwater Sport Fishing Charter Sector

  The Alaska recreational charter boat sector has undergone significant change in recent years due in part to several regulatory changes in the management of the Pacific halibut sport fishery, including ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Cost and Earnings in the Alaska Saltwater Sport Fishing Charter Sector Author: Sampson, Gabriel S., Lew, Daniel K., Lee, Jean, Himes-Cornell, Amber The Alaska recreational charter boat sector has undergone significant change in recent years due in part to several regulatory changes in the management of the Pacific halibut sport fishery, including a limited entry program, harvest controls specific to the charter sector, and a Catch Sharing Plan (CSP) implemented during 2014. In the face of these regulatory changes, the number of active charter businesses declined from over 1,000 in the mid-2000s to less than 600 in recent years. To understand the economic conditions of this sector prior to implementation of the CSP, a survey was undertaken to collect costs, earnings, and employment information from charter businesses. Sample data for the 2011, 2012, and 2013 fishing seasons were used to generate population-level estimates of fixed and variable costs, fishing and non-fishing revenues, and offshore and onshore employment. These estimates are adjusted to reflect missing data using sample weighting and nearest neighbor data imputation approaches. The adjusted population-level results suggest that in 2011 the Alaska saltwater sport fishing charter sector as a whole operated at a loss, but in 2012 and 2013, as the population of charter businesses shrank, the sector yielded an overall profit. Overall, the 3-year period saw slight changes in employment and spending patterns by charter businesses that remained in the fishery, including a shift to using proportionately more part-time employees for on-shore work and decreasing the amount spent on charter trip expenses and cash investments in vehicles, machinery, equipment, buildings and real estate. Title: Cost and Earnings in the Alaska Saltwater Sport Fishing Charter Sector Author: Sampson, Gabriel S., Lew, Daniel K., Lee, Jean, Himes-Cornell, Amber The Alaska recreational charter boat sector has undergone significant change in recent years due in part to several regulatory changes in the management of the Pacific halibut sport fishery, including a limited entry program, harvest controls specific to the charter sector, and a Catch Sharing Plan (CSP) implemented during 2014. In the face of these regulatory changes, the number of active charter businesses declined from over 1,000 in the mid-2000s to less than 600 in recent years. To understand the economic conditions of this sector prior to implementation of the CSP, a survey was undertaken to collect costs, earnings, and employment information from charter businesses. Sample data for the 2011, 2012, and 2013 fishing seasons were used to generate population-level estimates of fixed and variable costs, fishing and non-fishing revenues, and offshore and onshore employment. These estimates are adjusted to reflect missing data using sample weighting and nearest neighbor data imputation approaches. The adjusted population-level results suggest that in 2011 the Alaska saltwater sport fishing charter sector as a whole operated at a loss, but in 2012 and 2013, as the population of charter businesses shrank, the sector yielded an overall profit. Overall, the 3-year period saw slight changes in employment and spending patterns by charter businesses that remained in the fishery, including a shift to using proportionately more part-time employees for on-shore work and decreasing the amount spent on charter trip expenses and cash investments in vehicles, machinery, equipment, buildings and real estate. Close