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Effect of Stock Size and Regulations on Fishing Industry Cost and Structure: The Surf Clam Industry
Author(s) -
Lipton Douglas W.,
Strand Ivar E.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
american journal of agricultural economics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.949
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1467-8276
pISSN - 0002-9092
DOI - 10.2307/1243004
Subject(s) - fishing , fishery , stock (firearms) , fishing industry , fish stock , business , environmental science , geography , biology , archaeology
Fishing costs are dependent on the size of the fish stock and regulations. Changes in these factors alter the equilibrium industry structure. In a multiproduct fishery, it is not possible to generalize how a reduction in industry catch will be accomplished, through a reduction in catch per vessel or in the number of vessels. Multiproduct cost functions are estimated for the Atlantic clam fishery. Simulations reveal that optimal harvest would be achieved with an increase in the number of vessels and a decrease in the catch per vessel of surf clams and an increase in the catch of ocean quahogs.