Competition or Cooperation? Peer Effects in the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery

Nancy Haskell, Aaron Mamula and Trevor C. Collier

Abstract

We analyze longitudinal data on vessel activity in the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery from 2011 to 2014, employing a spatial Durbin model with fixed effects. Different definitions of peers using port and risk pool membership allow identification of competition and cooperation under various groupings. Positive spillovers are strongest among vessels with a shared primary port. Competition also exists, as greater fishing intensity by peers negatively impacts average revenue. We find smaller positive spillovers than previous literature on lobster and crab fisheries, which have more sedentary spatiotemporal patterns. Thus, cooperatives within a single port or close neighboring ports may better serve groundfish fisheries. (JEL Q22)

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