annotated bibliography of fisheries economics literature - Office of ...

This paper explores how the economic value of recreation at local public
beaches can be estimated from nearby property values. The negative effect of
distance from the nearest public beach on coastal property values was used to
reveal recreational value. Estimates of recreational value were also compared
to the costs of beach nourishment that were calculated from a simulation of
beach erosion caused, in part, by increases in relative sea-level. Although a
complete benefit-cost analysis was not feasible, the results suggest that
potential losses of recreational value by local users alone could establish
the efficiency of beach nourishment projects.
Edwards, Steven F. and Steven A. Murawski (1993). Potential Economic
Benefits from Efficient Harvest of New England Groundfish. North
American Journal of Fisheries Management, 13: 437-449.
Dissipation of economic benefits from commercial harvest of the
multispecies groundfish resource in U.S. waters off New England was estimated
from dynamic optimization of empirical bioeconomic models. Net economic value
could be maximized by an estimate 70% reduction in fishing effort, resulting
in a sevenfold increase in the size of the harvestable resource and a
threefold increase in sustainable yield. Under these conditions, fishers,
seafood industries, and consumers could benefit from an estimated US$150
million increase in sustainable net economic value each year, including about
$130 million in resource rent. Consumers in the region could profit further
from the nutritional and health benefits of up to an additional 6 lb of fresh
fish per capita. Policies to achieve these benefits are highlighted.
Augmenting state ownership of the resource with market transfers of individual
effort or harvest quotas is preferred to open access, but common property or
individual private property regimes are more likely to benefit society.
Edwards, S., Al Bejda, and A. Richards (1991). "Sole Ownership of
Living Marine Resources: A Possible Solution to Overfishing."
Draft report prepared by the Northeast Fisheries Center Research
Council, September 5.
This report explores the meaning and application of sole ownership of
living marine resources with the purpose of promoting an informed and timely
discussion of its utility and feasibility. The major findings and conclusions
are: (1) fish resources are the only publicly owned natural resources in the
United States that are both widely subject to open access and available to
harvesters at no cost; (2) both overfishing and the resultant dissipation of
billions of dollars of resource value result from the absence of well defined
(i.e. permanent, enforceable, and transferable) property rights to the living
marine resources; (3)fishery quotas and effort restrictions address only the
symptoms of open access, not the fundamental problem of a lack of property
rights to the resource and its productivity; (4) the incentives that influence
decisions of fishermen and public officials are fundamental to the presence of
both "market failure" and "government failure;" (5) sole ownership--not
limited entry or ITQs--could provide resource owners with the necessary
incentives to husband the fish resources.
Edwards, S., Allen J. Bejda, and A. Richards (1993). "Sole Ownership of
Living Marine Resources." NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-F/NEC-
99, U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast
Region, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, May, 21 pp.
This report explores the meaning and application of sole ownership of
living marine resources. Its purpose was to promote an informed and timely
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