Edward F. Klima

Feasibility of improving the economic return from the Gulf of Mexico brown shrimp fishery

Abstract A bioeconomic model was developed to investigate the feasibility of improving the economic return from the fishery for brown shrimp Penaeus aztecus through cooperative federal and state management closures in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Four different closure periods were simulated with the model. The closure options were evaluated for Texas only (current condition) and for the entire U.S. Gulf of Mexico (proposed condition). The model provided an accurate biological simulation of the brown shrimp fishery in the Gulf of Mexico. Each of the evaluated closures gave positive net profits to the fishery as a whole, However, these benefits were mainly for larger vessels (>50 ft in length). None of the proposed closures increased the profits for boats (undocumented vessels of unknown lengths), and only some closures increased the profits for smaller vessels (≤50 ft in length).

Synopsis of the Tortugas Pink Shrimp Fishery, 1960-1983, and the Impact of the Tortugas Sanctuary

Abstract The implementation of the Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Fishery Management Plan established an area commonly known as the Tortugas shrimp sanctuary and prohibited all trawling activity within that area between May 15, 1981, and April 15, 1983. Monthly commercial landing statistics of pink shrimp (Penaeus duorarum) were compared between the 2 years of the Tortugas sanctuary closure (i.e., 1981 and 1982), and these data also were compared with similar data from the historical fishery (1960-1979). Landings during the 23 years from 1960 through 1982 averaged 9.7 ± 1.8 million lb/year (mean ± SD); average effort was 16,000 fishing-days/year. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) averaged 619 ± 76 lb/d for the 23 years, and ranged from 797 lb/d in 1980 down to 479 lb/d in 1982. No differences in catch, CPUE, or size composition were distinguishable due to the closure. However, compliance with the regulation by fishermen was poor.