Economic Considerations of Mesh Size Regulation in the West Coast Groundfish Fishery

摘要

The Groundfish Management Plan of the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) outlines the historical use of fishnet mesh size as a groundfish management tool. Although minimum mesh sizes are in effect for various groundfish fisheries on the West Coast, management has placed heavier reliance on numerical quotas to control fishing mortality. Mesh size regulations will have both direct and indirect impacts. The five sections of the paper focus on considerations related to the economic performance of mesh size regulations.