Stuart T. Nakamoto

Evaluating fisheries management options in Hawaii using analytic hierarchy process (AHP)

Fisheries management is typically characterized by multiple and often conflicting objectives. The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WPRFMC) is the authority for managing exclusive economic zone (EEZ) fisheries in Hawaii. The array of multiple objectives coupled with the heterogeneous composition of WPRFMC creates a complex decision-making environment for fishery management in Hawaii. In this paper, we applied the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to evaluate four alternatives for limiting entry of longliners into the Hawaii pelagic fishery. We first elicited the factors deemed to be important for a sustainable pelagic fishery using a questionnaire survey, followed by another questionnaire to elicit judgments from all of the individuals involved in the decision-making process of WPRFMC. While there is considerable variation among individuals, the overall weighting of objectives and ranking of alternatives is robust in the sense of being consistent across all four bodies of the WPRFMC. There was no statistical difference in mean results among the WPRFMC bodies at the 5% level. This experience demonstrated an application of the AHP process in fishery management. The results of the present evaluation of the alternatives for limiting entry of longliners are comparable to earlier decisions. As compared to conventional decision making, this process has the advantages of timeliness, quantification, and documentation. It may also provide policy analysts with insights into potential conflicts and tradeoffs before the decision-making process unfolds.

The value of diluted poultry slurry

Abstract The value of diluted poultry slurry (DPS) applied in combination with commercial fertilizer (CF) was estimated using data from field trials on sweet corn. The procedure focuses on the benefits gained by final consumers to evaluate the performance of fertilizers. DPS had a positive impact if no commercial fertilizer were used. Results averaged over all growing seasons demonstrate no significant improvement in revenues and contribution margins over using only commercial fertilizers at the standard, recommended application rates, largely because of wide variations in yields associated with using DPS. The consistency of the nutrient content in DPS may be a contributing factor. The standard application had a statistically higher contribution margin relative to different CF:DPS combinations at DPS prices from a low of US

Accounting for the Linkages of Agriculture in Hawaii's Economy with an Input-Output Model: A Final Demand-Based Approach

0.79/m 3 to a high of US

Production Costs of Selected Vegetable Crops in Hawaii (Cabbage, Cucumber, Green Onion, and Lettuce)

51.25/m 3 . This cost is the imputed value of DPS on a year-round basis. Results improved for DPS with the more favorable growing conditions of the summer season, but are confounded by lower nutrient levels of the DPS. Although statistically significant for only one case, many combinations had higher mean revenues and contribution margins as compared to the standard. During the summer, the cost of DPS would need to exceed US

What is value added

63.31/m 3 for the standard to be superior to most cases, and US

Estimated Impact on Hawaii's Economy of Replacing Selected Fresh Vegetable and Fruit Imports

93/m 3 to be absolutely preferred.