IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/tiu/tiutis/c02852eb-237c-4c6b-af7c-96691f45cc18.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

Nautical Patrol and Illegal Fishing Practices

Author

Listed:
  • Kastoryano, Stephen
  • Vollaard, Ben

    (Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management)

Abstract

We uncover a hidden illegal fishing practice: the use of fishing nets with illegally small mesh size. The small mesh prevents nearly all fish of saleable size from escaping the net, but also traps a large number of fish which are too small to be sold on the market and are therefore discarded at sea. Our approach relies on readily available data on reported fish landings rather than on data from inspections, which are rare, and which tend to be anticipated by fishermen. We focus on bottom trawling, the world's most widely used fishing method. We exploit the fact that using illegally small mesh size strongly increases the share of small fish in the catch. Using quasi-random variation in nautical patrol as a source of variation in the incentive to comply, we show that in weeks without patrol the share of small fish in the landed catch is systematically larger than in adjacent weeks with patrol. Our results are in line with widespread use of illegally small mesh.
(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)
(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)
(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)
(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)
(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)
(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)
(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)
(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)
(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)
(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)
(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)
(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)
(This abstract was borrowed from
(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)

Suggested Citation

  • Kastoryano, Stephen & Vollaard, Ben, 2022. "Nautical Patrol and Illegal Fishing Practices," Other publications TiSEM c02852eb-237c-4c6b-af7c-9, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    • Handle: RePEc:tiu:tiutis:c02852eb-237c-4c6b-af7c-96691f45cc18
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://pure.uvt.nl/ws/portalfiles/portal/63835479/2022_016.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    Other versions of this item:

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Newell, Richard G. & Sanchirico, James N. & Kerr, Suzi, 2005. "Fishing quota markets," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 49(3), pages 437-462, May.
    2. Mathias Reynaert & James M. Sallee, 2021. "Who Benefits When Firms Game Corrective Policies?," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 13(1), pages 372-412, February.
    3. David A. Keiser & Joseph S. Shapiro, 2019. "US Water Pollution Regulation over the Past Half Century: Burning Waters to Crystal Springs?," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 33(4), pages 51-75, Fall.
    4. Esther Duflo & Michael Greenstone & Nicholas Ryan, 2013. "Truth-telling by Third-party Auditors and the Response of Polluting Firms: Experimental Evidence from India," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 128(4), pages 1499-1545.
    5. Blundell, Wesley, 2020. "When threats become credible: A natural experiment of environmental enforcement from Florida," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    6. Vollaard, Ben, 2017. "Temporal displacement of environmental crime: Evidence from marine oil pollution," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 168-180.
    7. Newell, Richard G. & Papps, Kerry L. & Sanchirico, James N., 2005. "Asset Pricing in Created Markets for Fishing Quotas," Discussion Papers 10639, Resources for the Future.
    8. Aaron Chalfin & Justin McCrary, 2017. "Criminal Deterrence: A Review of the Literature," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 55(1), pages 5-48, March.
    9. Andr's Gonz'lez Lira & Ahmed Mushfiq Mobarak, 2018. "Slippery Fish: Enforcing Regulation when Agents Learn and Adapt," Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers 2143R, Cowles Foundation for Research in Economics, Yale University, revised Mar 2021.
    10. Esther Duflo & Michael Greenstone & Rohini Pande & Nicholas Ryan, 2018. "The Value of Regulatory Discretion: Estimates From Environmental Inspections in India," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 86(6), pages 2123-2160, November.
    11. Robert N. Stavins, 2011. "The Problem of the Commons: Still Unsettled after 100 Years," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 101(1), pages 81-108, February.
    12. Wayne B. Gray & Jay P. Shimshack, 2011. "The Effectiveness of Environmental Monitoring and Enforcement: A Review of the Empirical Evidence," Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 5(1), pages 3-24, Winter.
    13. Enric Sala & Juan Mayorga & Darcy Bradley & Reniel B. Cabral & Trisha B. Atwood & Arnaud Auber & William Cheung & Christopher Costello & Francesco Ferretti & Alan M. Friedlander & Steven D. Gaines & C, 2021. "Author Correction: Protecting the global ocean for biodiversity, food and climate," Nature, Nature, vol. 592(7856), pages 25-25, April.
    14. Enric Sala & Juan Mayorga & Darcy Bradley & Reniel B. Cabral & Trisha B. Atwood & Arnaud Auber & William Cheung & Christopher Costello & Francesco Ferretti & Alan M. Friedlander & Steven D. Gaines & C, 2021. "Protecting the global ocean for biodiversity, food and climate," Nature, Nature, vol. 592(7854), pages 397-402, April.
    15. Joshua D. Angrist & Kathryn Graddy & Guido W. Imbens, 2000. "The Interpretation of Instrumental Variables Estimators in Simultaneous Equations Models with an Application to the Demand for Fish," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 67(3), pages 499-527.
    16. Reynaert, Mathias & Ale-Chilet, Jorge & Chen, Cuicui & Li, Jing, 2021. "Colluding Against Environmental Regulation," CEPR Discussion Papers 16038, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    17. Telle, Kjetil, 2013. "Monitoring and enforcement of environmental regulations," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 24-34.
    18. Srinivasan, Jeena T., 2005. "State regulation versus co-management: evidence from the Cochin Estuarine Fisheries in India," Environment and Development Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 10(1), pages 97-117, February.
    19. Karam Kang & Bernardo S. Silveira, 2021. "Understanding Disparities in Punishment: Regulator Preferences and Expertise," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 129(10), pages 2947-2992.
    20. Wesley Blundell & Gautam Gowrisankaran & Ashley Langer, 2020. "Escalation of Scrutiny: The Gains from Dynamic Enforcement of Environmental Regulations," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 110(8), pages 2558-2585, August.
    21. Ciani Emanuele & Fisher Paul, 2019. "Dif-in-Dif Estimators of Multiplicative Treatment Effects," Journal of Econometric Methods, De Gruyter, vol. 8(1), pages 1-10, January.
    22. Eric Zitzewitz, 2012. "Forensic Economics," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 50(3), pages 731-769, September.
    23. Nancy Qian, 2008. "Missing Women and the Price of Tea in China: The Effect of Sex-Specific Earnings on Sex Imbalance," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 123(3), pages 1251-1285.
    24. Daniel Pauly & Dirk Zeller, 2016. "Catch reconstructions reveal that global marine fisheries catches are higher than reported and declining," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-9, April.
    25. Ruth H. Thurstan & Simon Brockington & Callum M. Roberts, 2010. "The effects of 118 years of industrial fishing on UK bottom trawl fisheries," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 1(1), pages 1-6, December.
    26. Corbett Grainger & Andrew Schreiber, 2019. "Discrimination in Ambient Air Pollution Monitoring?," AEA Papers and Proceedings, American Economic Association, vol. 109, pages 277-282, May.
    27. Eric Yongchen Zou, 2021. "Unwatched Pollution: The Effect of Intermittent Monitoring on Air Quality," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 111(7), pages 2101-2126, July.
    28. Aaron Hatcher & Daniel Gordon, 2005. "Further Investigations into the Factors Affecting Compliance with U.K. Fishing Quotas," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 81(1).
    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. Kastoryano, Stephen & Vollaard, Ben, 2023. "Unseen annihilation: Illegal fishing practices and nautical patrol," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    2. Yingfei Mu & Edward A. Rubin & Eric Zou, 2021. "What’s Missing in Environmental (Self-)Monitoring: Evidence from Strategic Shutdowns of Pollution Monitors," NBER Working Papers 28735, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Makofske, Matthew Philip, 2021. "Spoiled food and spoiled surprises: Inspection anticipation and regulatory compliance," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 348-365.
    4. Browne, Oliver R. & Gazze, Ludovica & Greenstone, Michael & Olga Rostapshova, 2022. "Man vs. Machine : Technological Promise and Political Limits of Automated Regulation Enforcement," The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS) 1440, University of Warwick, Department of Economics.
    5. Shimshack, Jay P. & Ward, Michael B., 2022. "Costly sanctions and the treatment of frequent violators in regulatory settings," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    6. Vollaard, Ben, 2017. "Temporal displacement of environmental crime: Evidence from marine oil pollution," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 168-180.
    7. Mobarak, Ahmed & Gonzalez Lira, Andres, 2018. "Enforcing Regulation under Illicit Adaptation," CEPR Discussion Papers 13114, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    8. Gonzalez-Lira, Andres & Mobarak, Ahmed Mushfiq, 2019. "Slippery Fish: Enforcing Regulation under Subversive Adaptation," IZA Discussion Papers 12179, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    9. Merkus, Erik, 2024. "The economic consequences of environmental enforcement: Evidence from an anti-deforestation policy in Brazil," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    10. Andr's Gonz'lez Lira & Ahmed Mushfiq Mobarak, 2018. "Slippery Fish: Enforcing Regulation when Agents Learn and Adapt," Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers 2143R, Cowles Foundation for Research in Economics, Yale University, revised Mar 2021.
    11. Wesley Blundell & Gautam Gowrisankaran & Ashley Langer, 2020. "Escalation of Scrutiny: The Gains from Dynamic Enforcement of Environmental Regulations," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 110(8), pages 2558-2585, August.
    12. Agarwal, Sumit & Han, Yajie & Qin, Yu & Zhu, Hongjia, 2023. "Disguised pollution: Industrial activities in the dark," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 223(C).
    13. Makofske, Matthew, 2024. "Anticipated Monitoring, Inhibited Detection, and Diminished Deterrence," MPRA Paper 120044, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    14. Ale-Chilet, Jorge & Chen, Cuicui & Li, Jing & Reynaert, Mathias, 2021. "Colluding Against Environmental Regulation," TSE Working Papers 21-1204, Toulouse School of Economics (TSE).
    15. Jonathan Colmer & Mary F. Evans & Jay Shimshack, 2023. "Environmental citizen complaints," CEP Discussion Papers dp1903, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    16. Alm, James & Shimshack, Jay, 2014. "Environmental Enforcement and Compliance: Lessons from Pollution, Safety, and Tax Settings," Foundations and Trends(R) in Microeconomics, now publishers, vol. 10(4), pages 209-274, December.
    17. Bizet, Romain & Bonev, Petyo & Leveque, Francois, 2020. "The effect of local monitoring on nuclear safety and compliance: Evidence from France," Economics Working Paper Series 2014, University of St. Gallen, School of Economics and Political Science.
    18. Dur, Robert & Vollaard, Ben, 2019. "Salience of law enforcement: A field experiment," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 208-220.
    19. Blundell, Wesley, 2020. "When threats become credible: A natural experiment of environmental enforcement from Florida," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    20. Persico, Claudia L. & Johnson, Kathryn R., 2021. "The effects of increased pollution on COVID-19 cases and deaths," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
    • Q22 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Fishery

    NEP fields

    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:tiu:tiutis:c02852eb-237c-4c6b-af7c-96691f45cc18. 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: Richard Broekman (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.tilburguniversity.edu/about/schools/economics-and-management/ .

    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.