THE ECONOMY OF COMMERCIAL FISHING

摘要

Though the U.S. commercial fishing fleet is aging, its catch continues to go up. How can that be? According to the University of British Columbia, the answer is "technology" creep, with researchers from the university finding that the introduction of mechanisms such as GPS, fishfinders, echo sounders and acoustic cameras, has led to an average 2% yearly increase in boats' capacity to capture fish. That would seem to be supported by the most recent available report, issued late last year, from NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Science and Technology. Covering the prior year's fishing statistics, the report provides a detailed look at the economic performance of commercial and recreational fisheries and other marine-related sectors on a state, regional and national basis.