Document Type
Article
Department/Program
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Publication Date
2016
Journal
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
Volume
6
Abstract
Every year, millions of pots and traps are lost in crustacean fisheries around the world. Derelict fishing gear has been found to produce several harmful environmental and ecological effects, however socioeconomic consequences have been investigated less frequently. We analyze the economic effects of a substantial derelict pot removal program in the largest estuary of the United States, the Chesapeake Bay. By combining spatially resolved data on derelict pot removals with commercial blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) harvests and effort, we show that removing 34,408 derelict pots led to significant gains in gear efficiency and an additional 13,504 MT in harvest valued at US $21.3 million-a 27% increase above that which would have occurred without removals. Model results are extended to a global analysis where it is seen that US $831 million in landings could be recovered annually by removing less than 10% of the derelict pots and traps from major crustacean fisheries. An unfortunate common pool externality, the degradation of marine environments is detrimental not only to marine organisms and biota, but also to those individuals and communities whose livelihoods and culture depend on profitable and sustainable marine resource use.
DOI
10.1038/srep19671
Keywords
MARINE FAUNA; CRAB POTS; MANAGEMENT; FISHERY; TRAPS; WATERS; MORTALITY; VIRGINIA; BEHAVIOR
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Sponsor
We thank R. O'Reilly, J. Grist, and S. Iverson of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission for data support in model development; T. Rudnicky of the Center for Coastal Resources Management for development of georeferenced management areas; and all the Virginia commercial crabbers who took part in the removal program. This paper is Contribution No. 3522 of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William & Mary. Data collection was funded by NOAA/NMFS through the fisheries disaster relief and also by NFWF and the Office of the Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources. This research was supported by NOAA's Marine Debris Program.
Recommended Citation
Scheld, Andrew M.; Bilkovic, Donna M.; and Havens, Kirk J., The Dilemma of Derelict Gear (2016). SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, 6.
10.1038/srep19671
