The Economic Value of Water and Ecosystem Preservation
The Economic Value of Water and Ecosystem Preservation
The Economic Value of Water and Ecosystem Preservation
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
an advantage, particularly in oysters, where global competition is not as relevant<br />
as it is in shrimping.<br />
Of greater interest is the impact that declining or increasing employment has<br />
had in the four industries. As Tables 5-9 <strong>and</strong> 5-10 illustrate, the total economic<br />
impact <strong>of</strong> employment loss in the fisheries sector is not nearly as great in any <strong>of</strong><br />
the remaining three sectors. <strong>The</strong> multiplier effect is very limited.<br />
In the case <strong>of</strong> Aransas, the growth in mining <strong>and</strong> construction was able to<br />
<strong>of</strong>fset the decline in fisheries <strong>and</strong> manufacturing, <strong>and</strong> create a net 376 jobs <strong>and</strong><br />
income <strong>of</strong> $17.6 million. For Calhoun, the study period coincided with a scaling<br />
back <strong>of</strong> expansion at the petro-chemical firms <strong>and</strong> this is reflected in the declining<br />
employment numbers. Yet, it still illustrates the greater impact that each <strong>of</strong> the<br />
three industries has on the economy than fishing.<br />
What is the future <strong>of</strong> the fishing sector within the context <strong>of</strong> the larger county<br />
<strong>and</strong>/or regional economic picture? Shrimping will continue to feel pressure from<br />
imports as well as input prices, such as fuel. Oystering may still have a<br />
competitive advantage given the dem<strong>and</strong> for fresh product. This fishery will face<br />
pressure in the form <strong>of</strong> higher input prices as well as habitat loss. One could<br />
conclude that even if there is a loss <strong>of</strong> jobs in the fishery sector that it could be<br />
made up in other sectors, assuming they grow, <strong>and</strong> that the impact would<br />
actually be greater. However, there might be value beyond the economic output<br />
<strong>of</strong> the fishing sector.<br />
Texas <strong>and</strong> the Coastal Bend have a rich commercial fishing history. <strong>The</strong>re<br />
are many who value its presence beyond the product that it can provide. <strong>The</strong>se<br />
values that are not as tangible can add to the impact that the industry has. For<br />
example, there are tourists who come on vacation <strong>and</strong> enjoy the experience <strong>of</strong><br />
going to the docks to buy shrimp, fish, or oysters directly <strong>of</strong>f the boat. If this<br />
experience is taken away, an important question is whether the tourist would<br />
continue to holiday in this region.<br />
69
Change language