Gilbert Sylvia

Intrinsic Fish Characteristics and Intraseason Production Efficiency: A Management-Level Bioeconomic Analysis of a Commercial Fishery

Biological changes in Pacific whiting (Merluccius productus) and corresponding production yields were used to model a vertically integrated fishery from harvest through processing. The seasonal bioeconomic programming model incorporated stock dynamics with the interactive economic effects of intrinsic fish quality, the harvest schedule, and quota allocation between heterogeneous user groups. The optimal management plan would maximize discounted net industry revenues (NPV) given a minimum spawning biomass. NPV was maximized when the intraseason timing of harvest coincided with the seasonal improvement in fish quality (e.g., following spawning and/or migration). NPV was only marginally affected, however, by the quota allocation between groups. Copyright 1999, Oxford University Press.

Concepts in fisheries management: Interdisciplinary gestalts and socioeconomic policy models

Abstract The U.S. marine fisheries management system provides a case study for exploring issues related to improving the fisheries policy process. The potential role and value of multiobjective analysis for developing policy information are examined. A numerical biosocioeconomic policy model is used to illustrate the value of interdisciplinary analysis and the problems associated with various fisheries management concepts, including the concept of optimum yield. The paper discusses practical problems inherent in developing comprehensive analysis but also suggests ways in which these approaches could prove valuable in guiding the policy process toward adoption of rational management strategies.

A comparison of yield per recruit and revenue per recruit models for the Oregon ocean shrimp, Pandalus jordani, fishery

Fishery regulations for Oregon ocean shrimp, Pandalus jordani, are designed to protect age 1 shrimp from overharvest and sustain long-term fishery benefits. Designing appropriate management regulations including minimum mesh size and season dates is complicated by the interaction of natural mortality, fishing mortality, and market factors including prices and revenues. The effects of these variables on management strategies were evaluated using yield per recruit and revenue per recruit models. The model that maximized yield indicated that an early season-opening date was optimal; however, due to size dependent ex-vessel prices, the revenue model suggested that a season-opening delay could generate higher total revenues, while decreasing total effort and total harvest. These results demonstrate that, depending on management objectives, incorporating market information may have a significant effect on selection of regulatory controls in this fishery.

FIRM-LEVEL HEDONIC ANALYSES OF U.S. PRODUCED SURIMI: IMPLICATIONS FOR PROCESSORS AND RESOURCE MANAGERS

Firm-level data on U.S. produced surimi, the only seafood product that is graded on the objective measurement of several quality characteristics, are used to estimate the effect of production variables (e.g., hours between harvest and processing) and policy variables (e.g., fishing seasons) on product characteristics. Transactions data are then used to estimate hedonic equations and derive implicit prices for each characteristic of surimi used to produce seafood analogs and traditional products in the U.S. and Japanese markets, respectively. Implicit prices are also estimated for surimi grade, production location (onshore, at-sea), and production date. Results indicate that several factors (including species) significantly affect surimi characteristics. Color and gel strength have the largest price impact, and market conditions alter the relative prices associated with improving certain characteristics. Overall results demonstrate that management decisions that affect fish quality—and, therefore, processed product quality and price—directly affect the wholesale value of the fishery.

Market Information and Fisheries Management: A Multiple-Objective Analysis

Abstract Market issues are often critical to the regional and national benefits that can be generated from fisheries management. In actual policy analysis, however, market considerations are often treated as exogenous to the fisheries policy problem. Examples illustrate the relationships between product characteristics, market demand, and regulatory management. A multiple-objective socioeconomic policy model was formulated to demonstrate these relationships. Numerical analysis illustrated how price differences due to product quality characteristics affect the selection of regulatory controls and the attainment of policy objectives. Results demonstrated that selection of regulatory instruments, including allowable effort and mesh size, will vary depending on size-related price differences and the relative values on noncomplementary objectives such as profits and employment. Results also showed that dynamic harvest patterns for each age-class display greater differences across scenarios relative to stock si...

Global markets and products of hake

The hakes (Merluccidae, Merluccius spp.) are one of the most important groups of groundfish sold in international seafood markets. The hakes, however, constitute a complex assemblage offish characterized by significant differences in biological, geographical and product quality attributes. In many cases these characteristics have played an important role in shaping the development and diversity of the global hake seafood market. Often overlooked, however, is that industry strategies and fisheries management policies have also affected the quality and distribution of some of these same characteristics.

A Multilevel, Multiobjective Policy Model: The Case of Marine Aquaculture Development

Marine aquaculture development is often constrained due to the difficulty in accommodating the industry within the evolving framework of coastal zone regulatory policy. One contributing problem is the dearth of socioeconomic, environmental, and institutional knowledge. To address this issue, a dynamic multiobjective, multilevel policy model is formulated for net-pen aquaculture development using effluent taxes as a policy instrument. Dynamic policy frontiers are generated by solving the aquacultural sectors problem, embedding the producers dynamic response within the policy makers problem, and then parameterizing on policy goals. The frontiers represent economic policy information consistent with the needs of a policy bargaining process. Copyright 1996, Oxford University Press.

Implementing Interoperability in the Seafood Industry: Learning from Experiences in Other Sectors

Abstract Interoperability of communication and information technologies within and between businesses operating along supply chains is being pursued and implemented in numerous industries worldwide to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of operations. The desire for greater interoperability is also driven by the need to reduce business risk through more informed management decisions. Interoperability is achieved by the development of a technology architecture that guides the design and implementation of communication systems existing within individual businesses and between businesses comprising the supply chain. Technology architectures are developed through a purposeful dialogue about why the architecture is required, the benefits and opportunities that the architecture offers the industry, and how the architecture will translate into practical results. An assessment of how the finance, travel, and health industries and a sector of the food industry—fresh produce—have implemented interoperability was conducted to identify lessons learned that can aid the development of interoperability in the seafood industry. The findings include identification of the need for strong, effective governance during the establishment and operation of an interoperability initiative to ensure the existence of common protocols and standards. The resulting insights were distilled into a series of principles for enabling syntactic and semantic interoperability in any industry, which we summarize in this article. Categorized as “structural,” “operational,” and “integrative,” the principles describe requirements and solutions that are pivotal to enabling businesses to create and capture value from full chain interoperability. The principles are also fundamental to allowing governments and advocacy groups to use traceability for public good.

Designing a Culinology(r) Based Research and Development Framework for Seafood Products

Abstract A trend in new food product development is the growing participation of chefs within an organizational framework known as Culinology(r). Culinology(r) is defined as the fusion of culinary/chef skills and technical/scientific skills. Combining culinary expertise with food science is expected to produce more creative and financially successful products. This concept paper develops ideas for embedding the culinary framework into a broader interdisciplinary and multisector system for designing and developing new food products from publicly managed natural resources. Initial results from implementing the first stage of this framework are provided for West Coast albacore tuna.

Intrinsic and extrinsic factors affecting efficient utilization of marine resources.

Abstract This paper will focus on various fisheries in which intrinsic and extrinsic factors are critical variables for improving utilization and economic benefits of aquatic products. Pacific whiting, an important US West Coast fishery, has endogenous protease enzymes that impact yield and quality in surimi production. Protease activity can be mitigated, in part, through onboard handling practices centering on harvest-to-process time/temperature parameters that reduce loss of myofibrillar proteins and improve gel strength. Seasonal changes in nutrient composition in the flesh will also affect final product quality and utilization. The timing of salmon harvest and improved handling practices through training and education can reduce postharvest fishery losses and provide additional opportunities for markets and product development. Changes in management regulations have created interesting challenges in the ability of the fishing industry to maintain high quality and improved yields. Intrinsic factors in fish must be considered along with extrinsic factors of the fishing and processing sectors for optimum fisheries management. To improve utilization of fishery resources there needs to be greater coordination of effort and cooperation among resource managers, food scientists, and the fishing industry.