Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jkksz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T08:48:54.801Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Limits to sustainable fish catch: the case of marine fishery in Kerala

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 April 2011

PREETI KAPURIA
PREETI KAPURIA*
Affiliation:
Department of Business Economics, University of Delhi, South Campus, New Delhi 110021, India. Email: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This study aims to examine the interannual variation in fish biomass and to estimate the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) for the marine fisheries of Kerala, India. Although the productivity of a fishery is known to be dependent on species diversity, this relationship is not widely documented. This paper uses an extended Gordon–Schaefer model that is modified to incorporate species diversity to estimate the MSY levels of catch and the corresponding fishing effort. Species diversity is expressed as both biological and bioeconomic diversity using the Simpson index. The model reports that the actual fishing effort has exceeded the maximum level necessary to support sustainable yield, while the maximum level of catch for maintaining sustainable yield is not known. A comparison of fish landings and effort data across different fishing techniques indicates that there is a potential to decrease the current level of fishing effort without experiencing a significant decline in fish catch.

Type
Research Article
Information
Environment and Development Economics , Volume 16 , Issue 5 , October 2011 , pp. 621 - 638
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Berachi, I.G. (2003), ‘Bioeconomic analysis of artisanal marine fisheries of Tanzania (Mainland)’, M.Sc. thesis, Department of Economics, University of Tromsø, Norway.Google Scholar
Bortier-Verstraaten, M.B. (2002), ‘A bioeconomic analysis of the Ghanian tuna fishery (1980–2000)’, M.Sc. thesis, Department of Economics, University of Tromsø, Norway.Google Scholar
Chopra, K. and Kumar, P. (2004), ‘Forest biodiversity and timber extraction: an analysis of the interaction of market and non-market mechanisms’, Ecological Economics 49: 135–148.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
FAO (2009), ‘The state of world fisheries and aquaculture (2008)’, FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.Google Scholar
Government of Kerala (2010), ‘Productive sector: marine fisheries scenario of Kerala’, Department of Fisheries, Government of Kerala, Kerala, available online at: www.fishnetkerala.gov.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=40&Itemid=77, accessed July 30, 2010.Google Scholar
Gupta, A.C. and Bhattacharya, R.N. (2007), ‘Fish biodiversity of Digha fishery in eastern India: an empirical analysis’, in Kumar, P. and Reddy, B.S. (eds), Ecology and Human Well-being, New Delhi: Sage Publications, pp. 69–92.Google Scholar
Kasulo, V. and Perrings, C. (2006), ‘Fishing down the value chain: biodiversity and access regimes in freshwater fisheries – the case of Malawi’, Ecological Economics 59: 106–114.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Paul, A. (2005), ‘Rise, fall, and persistence in Kadakkodi: an enquiry into the evolution of a community institution for fishery management in Kerala, India’, Environment and Development Economics 10: 33–51.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pillai, N.G.K. et al. (2007), ‘Appraisal of marine fisheries of Kerala’, CMFRI Newsletter Marine Fisheries Information Service Technical & Extension Series, 194: 1–9, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi.Google Scholar
Schnute, J. (1977), ‘Improved estimates from the Schaefer production model: theoretical considerations’, Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada 34: 583–603.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Simonit, S. and Perrings, C. (2005), ‘Indirect economic indicators in bio-economic fishery models: agricultural price indicators and fish stocks in Lake Victoria’, ICES Journal of Marine Sciences 62: 483–492.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
UNEP (2010a), ‘Green economy report: a preview’, Division of Technology, Industry and Economics, United Nations Environment Programme, Switzerland.Google Scholar
UNEP (2010b), ‘Turning the tide on falling fish stocks – UNEP-led green economy charts sustainable investments path’, UNEP Press Release available online at: http://www.unep.org/resourceefficiency/News/PressRelease/tabid/428/language/fr-FR/Default.aspx?DocumentID=624&ArticleID=6566&Lang=en, accessed August 4, 2010.Google Scholar