Y. Allen Chen, Ph.D.

Background

Allen Chen joined the Northwest Fisheries Science Center in 2019. Previously, Allen worked for the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center. He received his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Washington.

Current Research

Allen's current research focuses on integrating models of fisher behavior into our understanding of biological systems. This has included examining how we use fishery-dependent data and how observed effort and catches are influenced by fisher incentives and selection. The ability to leverage this data can help data-poor situations and improve stock assessments, which are used in fishery management plans and assess whether fisheries are achieving optimal yield. In addition, Allen has previously worked on understanding drivers of fishery selectivity, how different fishers may target different fish sizes, how this can affect the age structure of a fishery over time, and how efficient targeting maximizes the long-term economic benefits of U.S. fisheries. Allen also maintains the Input-Output model for Pacific Coast Fisheries (IOPAC), which estimates the economic contributions of fisheries to the United States West Coast. He runs the Northwest voluntary cost earnings data collections, which measure the profitability of fishing fleets to ensure the long-term economic sustainability of U.S. fisheries, and is currently working on improving seafood traceability and supply chains.

Curriculum vitae (PDF, 4 pages)