RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Improving Utilization of the Atlantic Sea Scallop Resource: An Analysis of Rotational Management of Fishing Grounds: Comment
JF Land Economics
JO Land Econ
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 378
OP 382
DO 10.3368/le.85.2.378
VO 85
IS 2
A1 Hart, Deborah R.
YR 2009
UL http://le.uwpress.org/content/85/2/378.abstract
AB Valderrama and Anderson (2007) presented an analysis of rotational fishing for sea scallops which unrealistically assumed high fixed price premiums for large sea scallops independent of their supply, and atypical initial conditions. These assumptions distort their results, leading them to suggest greater benefits for rotation than actually exist. This analysis was then used to criticize one aspect of current U.S. sea scallop management policy. However, their discussion ignores bycatch and possible habitat damage from scallop fishing. Including bycatch as external costs reduces the optimal fishing effort level from that which would otherwise be calculated. Finally, a number of practical difficulties in applying formal optimization to fishery management are discussed. (JEL Q22)