The Economics of Cooperative Fishery Research: A Survey of U.S. West Coast Groundfish Industry and Scientists
By John Harms and Dr. Gil SylviaABSTRACT
Acknowledging these limitations, this research examines the factors that influence industry's willingness to participate in cooperative research with fishery scientists. During summer 1998, scientists and fishermen in the U.S. West Coast groundfish fishery participated in a mail survey that asked respondents to assess several potential cooperative research projects on the basis of their perceived costs and benefits. Scientists and fishermen differed most strongly on observer programs and interviewing fishermen to gather observational data.
The survey also included hypothetical scenarios where industry vessels would be chartered for research. Fishermen assigned a "desirability" score and "willingness to supply" as a function of varying levels of compensation, days at sea, consultation into the design and conduct of the research, and other factors. Based on a utility of profit supply model, results were analyzed using ordinary least squares.
Compensation and skipper consultation had the largest effect on the charter's desirability and respondents' willingness to supply. Age, education, and gear type also significantly affected fishermen's willingness to participate in the charters. These results suggest significant problems in the manner in which scientists and industry relate. Addressing these problems will require developing institutions which emphasize "win-win" scenarios for both groups.
KEYWORDS:cooperative research, fishery management
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