IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v12y2020i23p9848-d450783.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Bio-Economic Analysis of the Liberian Coastal Fisheries

Author

Listed:
  • Alvin Slewion Jueseah

    (Department of Economics, School of Social Sciences, University of Iceland, Sæmundargötu 2, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland)

  • Dadi Mar Kristofersson

    (Department of Economics, School of Social Sciences, University of Iceland, Sæmundargötu 2, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland)

  • Tumi Tómasson

    (UNESCO GRÓ-Fisheries Training Program, Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, 220 Hafnarfjörður, Iceland)

  • Ogmundur Knutsson

    (Directorate of Fisheries, Dalshrauni 1, 220 Hafnarfjörður, Iceland)

Abstract

Many coastal fisheries are subject to harvesting externalities due to inadequate regulations compounded by limited enforcement. Coastal fisheries in Liberia consist of a fleet of dugout canoes (Kru) primarily targeting demersal finfish, larger open wooden boats propelled with outboard engines targeting small inshore pelagics (Fanti), and a small number of industrial trawlers employing midwater and bottom trawls targeting finfish and shrimp. This paper develops a bio-economic model for the coastal fisheries in Liberia and employs the model to identify economic optimal fishing effort and harvesting trajectories for the different coastal fleets. The results show under harvesting and disinvestments in the coastal fisheries in Liberia. In 2010 the Government of Liberia declared a six nautical mile inshore exclusion zone accessible only to small-scale fisheries (SSF), which was accompanied by increased enforcement. The coastal fleets in 2016 were profitable but the distribution of profits was tilted to the small-scale fleets. The government needs to evaluate what policy options are available to fully utilize the fisheries potential for different species complexes while at the same time reduce the risk of conflict and overharvesting. There appears to be a need for investment in new technologies, which can only take place if fishing in Liberia will remain profitable.

Suggested Citation

  • Alvin Slewion Jueseah & Dadi Mar Kristofersson & Tumi Tómasson & Ogmundur Knutsson, 2020. "A Bio-Economic Analysis of the Liberian Coastal Fisheries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-21, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:23:p:9848-:d:450783
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/23/9848/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/23/9848/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. repec:bla:devpol:v:28:y:2010:i:3:p:325-358 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Yayan Hernuryadin & Koji Kotani & Yoshio Kamijo, 2019. "Time Preferences between Individuals and Groups in the Transition from Hunter-Gatherer to Industrial Societies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-21, January.
    3. Christina C. Hicks & Philippa J. Cohen & Nicholas A. J. Graham & Kirsty L. Nash & Edward H. Allison & Coralie D’Lima & David J. Mills & Matthew Roscher & Shakuntala H. Thilsted & Andrew L. Thorne-Lyma, 2019. "Harnessing global fisheries to tackle micronutrient deficiencies," Nature, Nature, vol. 574(7776), pages 95-98, October.
    4. Cheung, William W.L. & Sumaila, U. Rashid, 2008. "Trade-offs between conservation and socio-economic objectives in managing a tropical marine ecosystem," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 66(1), pages 193-210, May.
    5. José-María Da Rocha & María-Jose Gutiérrez & Luis Antelo, 2013. "Selectivity, Pulse Fishing and Endogenous Lifespan in Beverton-Holt Models," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 54(1), pages 139-154, January.
    6. Salvatore Comitini & David S. Huang, 1967. "A Study of Production and Factor Shares in the Halibut Fishing Industry," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 75(4), pages 366-366.
    7. McConnell, Kenneth E. & Price, Michael, 2006. "The lay system in commercial fisheries: Origin and implications," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 51(3), pages 295-307, May.
    8. Jordi Guillen & Claire Macher & Mathieu Merzéréaud & Jean Boncoeur & Olivier Guyader, 2015. "Effects of the Share Remuneration System on Fisheries Management Targets and Rent Distribution," Marine Resource Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 30(2), pages 123-138.
    9. Lee G. Anderson, 1982. "The Share System in Open-Access and Optimally Regulated Fisheries," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 58(4), pages 435-449.
    10. Ragnar Arnason, 2011. "Loss of economic rents in the global fishery," Journal of Bioeconomics, Springer, vol. 13(3), pages 213-232, October.
    11. H. Scott Gordon, 1954. "The Economic Theory of a Common-Property Resource: The Fishery," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Chennat Gopalakrishnan (ed.), Classic Papers in Natural Resource Economics, chapter 9, pages 178-203, Palgrave Macmillan.
    12. Tahvonen, Olli, 2009. "Economics of harvesting age-structured fish populations," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 58(3), pages 281-299, November.
    13. Anthony Scott, 1955. "The Fishery: The Objectives of Sole Ownership," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 63(2), pages 116-116.
    14. H. Scott Gordon, 1954. "The Economic Theory of a Common-Property Resource: The Fishery," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 62(2), pages 124-124.
    15. Bjorndal, Trond & Munro, Gordon, 2012. "The Economics and Management of World Fisheries," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199576753.
    16. Thorolfur Matthiasson, 1997. "Fixed wage or share: Contingent contract renewal and skipper motivation," Labor and Demography 9702002, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Quaas, Martin F. & Requate, Till & Ruckes, Kirsten & Skonhoft, Anders & Vestergaard, Niels & Voss, Rudi, 2013. "Incentives for optimal management of age-structured fish populations," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 35(2), pages 113-134.
    2. Catherine J. Morrison Paul & Ronald G. Felthoven & Marcelo de O. Torres, 2010. "Productive performance in fisheries: modeling, measurement, and management," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 54(3), pages 343-360, July.
    3. Behringer, Stefan & Upmann, Thorsten, 2014. "Optimal harvesting of a spatial renewable resource," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 105-120.
    4. Gordon Munro & U. Sumaila, 2015. "On the Contributions of Colin Clark to Fisheries Economics," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 61(1), pages 1-17, May.
    5. Ni, Yuanming & Sandal, Leif Kristoffer, 2019. "Seasonality matters: A multi-season, multi-state dynamic optimization in fisheries," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 275(2), pages 648-658.
    6. Holland, Daniel S. & Herrera, Guillermo E., 2012. "The impact of age structure, uncertainty, and asymmetric spatial dynamics on regulatory performance in a fishery metapopulation," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 207-218.
    7. McCloskey Deirdre Nansen, 2018. "The Two Movements in Economic Thought, 1700–2000: Empty Economic Boxes Revisited," Man and the Economy, De Gruyter, vol. 5(2), pages 1-20, December.
    8. De Alessi, Michael & Sullivan, Joseph M. & Hilborn, Ray, 2014. "The legal, regulatory, and institutional evolution of fishing cooperatives in Alaska and the West Coast of the United States," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 217-225.
    9. Anne Sophie Crépin, 2003. "Threshold Effects in Coral Reef Fisheries," Working Papers 2003.107, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.
    10. Holm, Petter & Raakjær, Jesper & Becker Jacobsen, Rikke & Henriksen, Edgar, 2015. "Contesting the social contracts underpinning fisheries—Lessons from Norway, Iceland and Greenland," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 64-72.
    11. Pies, Ingo, 2012. "Optimierung versus Koordinierung: Zur ordonomischen Klärung des wirtschaftsethischen Problems," Discussion Papers 2012-21, Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, Chair of Economic Ethics.
    12. Geoffrey Fishburn & Murray C. Kemp, 2014. "The Gain from International Trade in Pool Goods and Private Goods," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(1), pages 167-169, February.
    13. Julio Peña, 1996. "Regulación Pesquera en Chile: Una Perspectiva Histórica," Latin American Journal of Economics-formerly Cuadernos de Economía, Instituto de Economía. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile., vol. 33(100), pages 367-395.
    14. Brander, James A. & Scott Taylor, M., 1998. "Open access renewable resources: Trade and trade policy in a two-country model," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 44(2), pages 181-209, April.
    15. Martin F. Quaas & Ralph Winkler, 2017. "A Market Mechanism for Sustainable and Efficient Resource Use under Uncertainty," CESifo Working Paper Series 6524, CESifo.
    16. Bruno Drouot, 2012. "Les facteurs explicatifs de la dépendance économique des patrons pêcheurs à une ressource naturelle : le cas de la pêcherie de bar commun en France," Post-Print hal-01870830, HAL.
    17. Guttormsen, Atle G. & Kristofersson, Dadi & Navdal, Eric, 2005. "Managing Genetic Resources for Fun and Profit -- The Role of the Interest Rate in Natural Selection," 2005 Annual meeting, July 24-27, Providence, RI 19354, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).
    18. Grafton, R. Quentin & Kompas, Tom & Chu, Long & Che, Nhu, 2010. "Maximum economic yield," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 54(3), pages 1-8.
    19. Berge, Erling, 2023. "How can “tragedies of the commons” be resolved? Social dilemmas and legislation," CLTS Working Papers 1/23, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Centre for Land Tenure Studies.
    20. Arnason, Ragnar, 2009. "Fisheries management and operations research," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 193(3), pages 741-751, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:23:p:9848-:d:450783. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.