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3.4 Conclusion
Living Resources contribute to the California economy through a range of activities.
Commercial Fish Harvesting, including Kelp, Seafood Processing, Fish Hatcheries and
Aquaculture, and Sport and Recreational Fishing represent a major source of revenue to the
California economy. Fish Harvesting has suffered major declines over the past several
decades. While there is not the evidence to indicate the loss in number of fishermen, nor in
wages, the steep decline in catch, limitations on fishing, and loss of species has probably
affected both the social and economic fabric of the coastal towns traditionally dependent on
fishing. Estimates of the real value of the commercial sector are incomplete and underestimated
because of the lack of fishermen employment and wage data, and will not be able
to become part of the record until the government requires regular and standard reporting of
such information from the fishing industry. With escalating demand for fish throughout the
world, California has much to gain from improving its circumstances. Future losses from
mismanagement of this renewable resource have not been estimated here, because only
reported market values have been considered. However, incalculable losses from over
fishing and depletion of stocks have already occurred and will continue to occur into the
future until California’s fisheries have recovered. As of 2000, the fishing industry directly
contributed a little more than $400 million to the California economy. That compares with a
contribution of more than $560 million in 1990. The differences in landings is even more
striking. Between 1980 and 2000, landings dropped from a value of $300 million to $142
million.
3.5 References
Moeller R, Fitz J. 1994. An Economic Assessment of Ocean-Dependent Activities.
California Research Bureau. Sacramento.
National Marine Fisheries Service. Available at .
The National Ocean Economics Program. . Accessed
2004 December.
Pacific Coast Fisheries Information Network. Available at
.
Pacific Fishery Management Council. Available at .
The Resources Agency, California Department of Fish and Game. December 2001.
California Living Marine Resources: A Status Report.
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