Use of a Halibut Excluder Device in the Flatfish Trawl Fisheries of the Eastern Bering Sea: Evaluating Incentives for Bycatch Reduction in Commons Fisheries
By John R. Gauvin and Craig S. Rose
ABSTRACT
Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) is managed as a prohibited species for federally-managed groundfish trawl fisheries in the Eastern Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska. A rigid grate, installed ahead of the trawl "codend" was developed by industry participants to reduce halibut bycatch. The device was then formally tested by an industry trade association in conjunction with an National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) fishing gear researcher under an Experimental Fishing Permit in 1998. Results from the experiment showed that the device excluded 94% of the halibut while releasing 38% of the target flatfish. Linear simulations of the fishery were developed to estimate the effect of grate use on the conduct of the normal open access fisheries. Simulations indicated that fleet-wide use of the grate would result in a 171% increase in the duration of the fishery and a 61% increase in target flatfish catch, and a 71% reduction in overall halibut bycatch. A simulation where only one of 20 vessels did not use the grate demonstrated a high incentive for individual noncompliance and strong potential for free rider behavior limiting total benefits obtainable from the use of the excluder. The paper concludes with a review of factors affecting incentives for voluntary or regulatory use of halibut excluders in the context of the highly regulated flatfish fisheries of the Eastern Bering Sea.
KEYWORDS: bycatch, trawl, individual bycatch quotas, grate, incentive, flatfish
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