No. 14/2005
THE BIOECONOMICS OF A WILD ATLANTIC SALMON (SALMO SALAR) RECREATIONAL FISHERY
Jon Olaf Olaussen
Anders Skonhoft
Abstract:
A biomass model of a wild salmon (Salmo salar) river recreational
fishery is formulated, and the ways in which economic and biological
conditions influence harvesting, stock size, profitability, and the benefit
of the anglers are studied. The demand for recreational angling is met
by fishing permits supplied by profit maximizing landowners. In line
with today’s stylized management practice in Norway, it is assumed
that the suppliers do not take into account the fact that this year’s
fishing effort influences next year’s stock size. Both price-taking
and monopolistic supply is studied. These myopic schemes are contrasted
with the social planner solution. Gear regulations in the recreational
fishery, but also the commercial fishery, are analysed under the various
management scenarios and the paper concludes with some policy implications.
One novel result is that imposing gear restrictions in the marine fishery
may have the opposite stock effect of imposing restrictions in the recreational
fishery.
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