Input-output analysis of the economic impacts of the landing obligation: Snap-shot from the trawler fleet in Northern Iberian waters (Spain)

The European Commission (EC) has recognised discards as one of the major challenges facing the Community fishing fleet. The obligation to land all regulated catches has been proposed as a mandatory and essential measure to minimise discarding practices. This paper analyses the economic consequences...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Ocean & coastal management Vol. 172; pp. 146 - 156
Main Authors:	Rodríguez-Rodríguez, Gonzalo, Ballesteros, V.Hugo M., Valeiras, Julio, Bellido, Jose M.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Elsevier Ltd 15-04-2019
Subjects:	Discards Economic impact Input-output analysis Landing obligation Trawlers Trawlers Discards Economic impact Landing obligation Input-output analysis
Online Access:	Get full text
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Summary:	The European Commission (EC) has recognised discards as one of the major challenges facing the Community fishing fleet. The obligation to land all regulated catches has been proposed as a mandatory and essential measure to minimise discarding practices. This paper analyses the economic consequences of enforcement of the Landing Obligation (L.O.) for the Spanish trawler fleet in Iberian Waters. A representative number of in-depth interviews were carried out with ship owners and skippers of the fleet in question, to identify the envisaged operational and logistic problems on board and in port arising from the L.O. Furthermore, the current economic performance of the target fishing companies was analysed using the Input-Output methodology to identify their most significant activity costs. The combination of both research techniques enabled the evaluation of the potential consequences of the new L.O., concluding that, although it will generate minor positive and negative economic impacts, the main issue stems from the loss of quota. Some recommendations, including complementary measures to improve the implementation of the new rule, will be made. •The LO implies monetary costs that are not actually compensated.•These added costs are reflected in three areas: on board, onshore and in loss of quota.•The main impact stems from the loss of quota.•An approach of pragmatic flexibility that allows progressive learning and adaptation is recommended.
ISSN:	0964-5691 1873-524X
DOI:	10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2019.02.006