Puerto Rican small scale fleet costs and earnings study

This paper describes the main findings of a socio-economic survey of the small-scale commercial fleet in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The survey inquired about household demographics, fishing practices, capital investment in fishing vessels, gear and equipment, variable and fixed costs, and earnings. Three hundred and sixty three fishermen were interviewed out of an estimated population of 1,152 using a stratified random sample.

The study revealed that the majority of the interviewees were middle-aged men, with moderate levels of formal education and high levels of fishing dependence. The typical fisherman was 52 years old and had 30 years of fishing experience. Fishermen reported that he derived about 65% of their household income from fishing activities and the remaining came from non-fishing activities (11%) and government assistance (21%). Most of them fished on a full-time basis.

The majority of the fishermen (70%) owned a single fishing boat and few of them (5%) owned 2 or more boats. The average boat was about 20 feet in length, had an outboard engine ( 61 hp), and had a fiberglass hull. Handlines, SCUBA, fish traps, bottom lines, and gillnets were the most commonly used gears.

Bottom lines and SCUBA were the most expensive gears to operate. On average, bottom line fishermen and SCUBA divers spent about $85 and $66 per trip running their boats, respectively. Gillnets had the lowest variable costs per trip ($36). Fuel accounted for the largest share of the variable cost categories. The percentage of fuel expenses to total variable costs ranged between 60% (SCUBA) and 68% (fish traps and gillnets). Bait cost were the second most important expenditure category after fuel costs. The percentage of bait expenditures to total variable cost ranged between 0% (SCUBA) and 19% (bottom lines).

The study found that the typical Puerto Rico fisherman spent about $1,938 on annual fixed costs. Office expenses (mainly transportation and communication), and boat and engine maintenance were the main expense categories accounting for 46% and 37% of the total annual fixed expenses, respectively.

Our findings indicate that SCUBA is the most profitable fishing gear in Puerto Rico. SCUBA diving profitability is driven by targeting high valued species such as spiny lobster and conch, and by having moderate fuel and maintenance expenses.

This report provides a summary of the socioeconomic data collected during this effort. The data obtained will assist in establishing socio-economic baselines, assessing the financial and economic performance of the industry as well as developing economic models to evaluate management proposals

Title : Puerto Rican small scale fleet costs and earnings study

Personal Author(s) : Tonioli, Flavia Carvalho;Shivlani, Manoj;Koeneke, Roberto;Agar, Juan J.;

Corporate Authors(s) : United States, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,;Coral Reef Conservation Program (U.S.);

Published Date : 2012

URL : https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/757