Impacts of Rationalization on Exposure to High Winds in Alaska’s Crab Fisheries

• Main Authors: Petesch, Tess, Pfeiffer, Lisa
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: Taylor & Francis 2019
• Subjects: Physiology; FOS Biological sciences; 59999 Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified; FOS Earth and related environmental sciences; Ecology; Sociology; FOS Sociology; 69999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified; Marine Biology; Inorganic Chemistry; FOS Chemical sciences; Science Policy; Bering Sea; Red king crab; Snow crab; Tanner crab
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.9211712.v1; https://tandf.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Impacts_of_Rationalization_on_Exposure_to_High_Winds_in_Alaska_s_Crab_Fisheries/9211712/1

Objectives : Safety at sea is an often overlooked aspect of well-being that fisheries management actions can affect, even when management actions are not intended to affect safety. Catch shares management has been associated with longer fishing seasons and a decline in the intensity of competition among fishers. This study assesses changes in exposure of Alaska’s commercial crab fisheries to relatively high-risk weather conditions after rationalization, or catch shares management, was implemented. Methods : We compare the rates of fishing in high-wind conditions in the Bristol Bay red king and the Bering Sea snow/tanner crab fisheries pre- and post-rationalization. We also compare results to a portion of the crab fishery that did not undergo the same change in management. Results : The rate of high wind fishing in the snow/tanner crab fishery fell post-rationalization, but increased in the red king crab fishery. Conclusion : When the red king and snow/tanner crab fisheries are considered together, rationalization led to longer seasons and improved flexibility to choose when to fish according to weather conditions. The snow crab fishery experienced a marked decline in higher-risk fishing after rationalization. Results are contrary to expectations for the king crab fisherybecause the flexibility in trip timing provided by the program produced a shift in their season toward winter months when average wind speeds are higher.