Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative
Fisheries Uses and Values Project
Analysis and Evaluation of the Commercial Fishing Grounds
We propose using the same method of analysis developed in the NCCSR process regarding the creation of a weighted surface that represents the stated importance for each fishery. It has been noted in multiple reviews that this is a clever approach and one of the most novel features of our methods. In response to suggestions made in the SCCSR, we've modified our methods in the NCCSR by weighting respondents' values (pennies) by the proportion of in-sample ex-vessel landings (both by landing port and by fishery), rather than treating each participant's shape equally (fisherman A's 100 pennies is equal to fisherman B's 100 pennies). We propose to use this same method of weighting in the SCSR. This will give more weight to more experienced or more successful fishermen. This can be done by linking the fishing grounds to the landing receipts. This method has been reviewed and endorsed by commercial fishermen in the NCCSR.
- Process participants' raw shapefiles using automated analytical programs created in the other two regions to generate raster datasets of the fishing grounds.
- Evaluate measure of weighting
- Proportion of in-sample ex-vessel landings (both by landing port and by fishery)
- Data will be summarized in aggregate form, displaying the relative value based on in-sample landings or a crude measure of spatial distribution of gross value for each fishery as they were defined in Component 2.
- Results to be presented and reviewed
- Evaluate the fishing grounds based on the stratification of the sampled population to determine if its results influence or change the fishing footprint. Results will be used to inform the process on the potential impacts to different geographical groups and sectors of the fleet.
- The sample population within a fishery would be stratified based on the following individual criteria or a combination of:
- Landings and/or Ex-vessel revenues associated with the region (i.e., "highliners" vs. everybody else)
- Vessel size
- Home port vs. landing port
- Use and document additional information collected in the interviews to further define the stated importance of the participants' fishing grounds.
- Demographics
- Basic operational costs
- How far they travel to an area to fish
- Vessel and gear type
- Percentage of household income derived from fishing, and the proportion attributed to each fishery in which they participate.
