Cost-Effectiveness of Gear Research Relative to a Closure: Pound Nets and Sea Turtles as an Example.

摘要

A cooperative gear research program was cost-effective compared to a closure to reduce sea turtle (families Cheloniidae and Dermochelyidae) interactions in the Virginia Chesapeake Bay pound net fishery. Commercial fisheries have been subject to closures and gear restrictions to protect sea turtles; the cost of these alternatives can differ greatly. After 4-6 years, the cumulative present value of costs for a gear modification, including research costs, was lower than for a closure; that is, the gear modification was cost-effective relative to the closure. Even for this small fishery, it may be financially prudent for fishermen to invest in gear research if the alternative is a closure. The factors that contributed to these results in the pound net fishery, including cooperative research and availability of observer data, are considered for their application to other fisheries.