Fisheries Economics of the United States — Glossary

Anglers

People catching fish with no intent to sell, including people releasing the catch. Also known as a recreational fishermen.

Source

Blackhart, K., D. G. Stanton, and M. Shimada (eds.). 2005. NOAA Fisheries Glossary, Revised edition, June 2006. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO-69, 61 p.

Catch

1. To undertake any activity that results in taking fish out of its environment dead or alive, or to bring fish on board a vessel dead or alive.

2. The total number (or weight) of fish caught by fishing operations. Catch should include all fish killed by the act of fishing, not just those landed; for this report, recreational catch refers to the total number of individual fish released (thrown back into the sea) and harvested (not thrown back into the sea) by anglers.

Source

Blackhart, K., D. G. Stanton, and M. Shimada (eds.). 2005. NOAA Fisheries Glossary, Revised edition, June 2006. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO-69, 61 p.

Catch Share Program

This is a generic term used to describe a fishery management program that allocates a specific portion of the total fishery catch to individuals, cooperatives, communities, or other entities, including sectors. The term encompasses more specific programs defined in legislation such as Limited Access Privilege Programs (LAPPs) and Individual Fishing Quotas (IFQs). Note that a catch share allocated to a sector is different from a general sectoral allocation or distribution to an entire segment of a fishery (such as a recreational sector allocation or a longline gear sector allocation). The two differ because the recipient of the catch share is responsible for terminating fishing activity when their specific share is reached.

Source

NOAA Fisheries Policy Office. NOAA Catch Share Policy.

Coastal Communities

Refers to communities located in a coastal county that has a marine shoreline. In the fishing communities section of this report, all communities within a shoreline county for which data were available were included for the purposes of comparison. Coastal communities were identified using the U.S.Census Bureau's municipal boundaries for Census Designated Places and County Subdivisions.

Commercial Fisheries

Fishing operations that sell their catch for profit. The term does not include subsistence fishermen or saltwater anglers who fish for sport or the recreational for-hire sector. The commercial fisheries section reports on economic impacts, landings revenue, landings, and landings (ex-vessel) prices of key species and species groups.

Durable Equipment Expenditures

Expenses related to equipment used for recreational fishing activities. These expenses include the purchase of semi-durable goods (e.g., tackle, rods, reels, line); durable goods (e.g., motor boats and accessories, non-motorized boats, boating electronics, mooring, boat storage, boat insurance, vehicles, second homes); and angling accessories and multi-purpose items (e.g., magazines, club dues, saltwater angling-specific clothing, camping gear).

Source

Lovell, S. J., J. Hilger, S. Steinback, and C. Hutt. 2016. The Economic Contribution of Marine Angler Expenditures on Durable Goods in the United States, 2014. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO-165, 72 p.

Economic Impact Model

Economic impact models capture how sales in a sector generate economic impacts directly in the sector in which the sale was made. The sales then ripple throughout the state and national economies as each dollar spent generates additional sales by other firms and consumers. The NOAA Commercial Fisheries and Seafood Industry Input-Output Model uses an IMPLAN platform to estimate the economic impacts associated with the harvesting of fish by U.S. commercial fishermen and other major components of the U.S. seafood industry. As used here, the term fish refers to the entire range of finfish, shellfish, and other life (that is, sea urchins, seaweed, kelp and worms) from marine and freshwaters that are included in the landings data maintained by NOAA Fisheries. The NOAA Recreational Fisheries Input-Output Model, which also uses an IMPLAN platform, estimates the economic impacts generated by expenditures made by marine (saltwater) anglers.

Sources

Lovell, S. J., J. Hilger, S. Steinback, and C. Hutt. 2016. The Economic Contribution of Marine Angler Expenditures on Durable Goods in the United States, 2014. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO-165, 72 p.

Kirkley, J. The NMFS Commercial Fishing & Seafood Industry Input/Output Model (CFSI I/O Model).

Lovell, S. J., J. Hilger, N. A. Olsen, and S. Steinback. 2020. The Economic Contribution of Marine Angler Expenditures on Fishing Trips in the United States, 2017. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO-201, 80p.

Economic Impacts

The economic impacts of the commercial fishing sector and seafood industry refer to the employment (full-time and part-time jobs), personal income, and output (sales by U.S. businesses) generated by the commercial harvest sector and other major components of the U.S. seafood industry. These components include processors and dealers, wholesalers and distributors, grocers, and restaurants. Economic impacts of recreational fishing activities refer to the amount of sales generated, the number of jobs supported, labor income, and the contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) by state (also known as value-added impacts) from expenditures related to recreational fishing.

Sources

Lovell, S. J., J. Hilger, S. Steinback, and C. Hutt. 2016. The Economic Contribution of Marine Angler Expenditures on Durable Goods in the United States, 2014. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO-165, 72 p.

Kirkley, J. The NMFS Commercial Fishing & Seafood Industry Input/Output Model (CFSI I/O Model).

Lovell, S. J., J. Hilger, N. A. Olsen, and S. Steinback. 2020. The Economic Contribution of Marine Angler Expenditures on Fishing Trips in the United States, 2017. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO-201, 80p.

Effort

Effort refers to the number of angler trips taken by recreational anglers. An angler trip is defined as any part of a single day (24 hours) of marine recreational fishing.

Employee Compensation

This is related to gross domestic product (GDP) by state and is an estimate of the sum of employee wages and salaries and supplements to wages and salaries. Wages and salaries are measured on an accrual, or “when earned” basis, which may be different from the measure of wages and salaries measured on a disbursement, or “when paid” basis. Wages and salaries and supplements of federal military and civilian government employees stationed abroad are excluded from the measure of GDP by state.

Source

Bureau of Economic Analysis. Regional Economic Accounts: About Regional.

Employment Impacts

Employment is specified on the basis of full-time and part-time jobs supported directly or indirectly by the purchases made by anglers or by the commercial harvest and seafood sector economic activity. This impact is measured in the number of full and part-time jobs.  

Endangered Species

As defined by the Endangered Species Act (ESA), an endangered species is any species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. See also “Threatened Species.”

Source

NOAA Fisheries. Endangered Species Act.

Endangered Species Act (ESA)

The ESA was signed on December 28, 1973 and provides for the conservation of species that are endangered or threatened throughout all or a significant portion of their range, and the conservation of the ecosystems on which they depend. The ESA replaced the Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1969. Congress has amended the ESA several times.

Source

NOAA Fisheries. Endangered Species Act.

Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

The EEZ is the area that extends 200 nautical miles from the seaward boundary of the coastal states. The seaward boundary for most states is 3 nautical miles with the exceptions of Texas, Puerto Rico, and the Gulf Coast of Florida, which is 9 nautical miles. The U.S. claims and exercises sovereign rights and exclusive fishery management authority over all fish and continental shelf resources through this 200-nautical-mile boundary.

Source

Blackhart, K., D. G. Stanton, and M. Shimada (eds.). 2005. NOAA Fisheries Glossary, Revised edition, June 2006. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO-69, 61 p.

Expenditures

Spending related to recreational fishing activities that can be either: 1) related to a specific fishing trip or 2) on durable equipment.

Sources

Lovell, S. J., J. Hilger, S. Steinback, and C. Hutt. 2016. The Economic Contribution of Marine Angler Expenditures on Durable Goods in the United States, 2014. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO-165, 72 p.

Lovell, S. J., J. Hilger, N. A. Olsen, and S. Steinback. 2020. The Economic Contribution of Marine Angler Expenditures on Fishing Trips in the United States, 2017. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO-201, 80p.

Fish Stock

A fish stock refers to the living resources in the community or population from which catches are taken in a fishery. The term “fish stock” usually implies that the particular population is more or less isolated from other stocks of the same species and hence self-sustaining. In a particular fishery, the fish stock may be one or several species of fish. Here, it also includes commercial invertebrates and plants.

Source

Blackhart, K., D. G. Stanton, and M. Shimada (eds.). 2005. NOAA Fisheries Glossary, Revised edition, June 2006. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO-69, 61 p.

Fishery Management Council (FMC)

A regional fisheries management body established by the Magnuson-Stevens Act to manage fishery resources in eight designated regions of the United States.

Source

NOAA Fisheries. Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

Fishery Management Plan (FMP)

1. A document prepared under supervision of the appropriate fishery management council (FMC) for the management of stocks of fish judged to require management. The plan generally must be formally approved. An FMP includes data, analyses, and management measures.

2. A plan containing conservation and management measures for fishery resources, and other provisions required by the Magnuson-Stevens Act, developed by fishery management councils or the Secretary of Commerce.

Source

NOAA Fisheries. Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

Fishing Cooperatives

A market-based fisheries management tool where access to fisheries resources is limited to a specific group of fishermen. See also “Catch Share Program.”

Source

NOAA Fisheries. Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

Fishing Day

For this report, a fishing day refers to a partial or full day spent in recreational fishing. This term is used in the Alaska recreational fishing tables.

Fishing Effort

The amount of fishing gear of a specific type used on the fishing grounds over a given unit of time. For example, hours trawled per day, number of hooks set per day, or number of hauls of a beach seine per day. When two or more kinds of gear are used, the respective efforts must be adjusted to some standard type before being added. For recreational fishing activities, fishing effort refers to the number of fishing trips made by recreational anglers.

Source

Blackhart, K., D. G. Stanton, and M. Shimada (eds.). 2005. NOAA Fisheries Glossary, Revised edition, June 2006. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO-69, 61 p.

Fishing Mode

The type of recreational fishing an angler engages in, such as fishing from shore, a private or rental boat, or a for-hire boat.

Fishing Trip

A fishing trip, also called an angler trip, is defined as any marine recreational fishing activity that occurs during a single 24-hour day. Trips are categorized by fishing mode, such as shore-based, from a private or rental boat, or from a for-hire boat.

For-Hire Mode

This fishing mode refers to trips taken by recreational fishermen (anglers) on a party (also referred to as a head boat) or charter boat. In the Gulf and South Atlantic, for-hire mode does not include head boats.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

The value added in production by the labor and capital located in a state. GDP for a state is derived as the sum of the GDP originating in all industries in the state. Value-added impacts refer to the contribution made to the gross domestic product in a region from commercial fishing landings and recreational fishing expenditures.

Source

Bureau of Economic Analysis. Regional Economic Accounts: About Regional.

Harvest

The total number or weight of fish caught and kept from an area over a period of time. In Hawaiʻi and the Gulf states, recreational harvest includes fish thrown back dead. See also “Catch” and “Release.”

Source

Blackhart, K., D. G. Stanton, and M. Shimada (eds.). 2005. NOAA Fisheries Glossary, Revised edition, June 2006. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO-69, 61 p.

Income Impacts

Income impacts include personal income (wages and salaries) and proprietors’ income (income from self-employment).

Sources

Lovell, S. J., J. Hilger, S. Steinback, and C. Hutt. 2016. The Economic Contribution of Marine Angler Expenditures on Durable Goods in the United States, 2014. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO-165, 72 p.

Kirkley, J. The NMFS Commercial Fishing & Seafood Industry Input/Output Model (CFSI I/O Model).

Lovell, S. J., J. Hilger, N. A. Olsen, and S. Steinback. 2020. The Economic Contribution of Marine Angler Expenditures on Fishing Trips in the United States, 2017. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO-201, 80p.

Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ)

A type of limited entry; an allocation to an individual (a person or a legal entity, for example, a vessel owner or company) of a right (privilege) to harvest a certain amount of fish in a certain period of time. It is also often expressed as an individual share of an aggregate quota, or total allowable catch (TAC). See also “Individual Transferable Quota” and “Catch Share Program.”

Source

Blackhart, K., D. G. Stanton, and M. Shimada (eds.). 2005. NOAA Fisheries Glossary, Revised edition, June 2006. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO-69, 61 p.

Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ)

A type of individual fishing quota (IFQ) allocated to individual fishermen or vessel owners that can be transferred (sold or leased) to others. See also “Individual Fishing Quota.”

Source

Blackhart, K., D. G. Stanton, and M. Shimada (eds.). 2005. NOAA Fisheries Glossary, Revised edition, June 2006. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO-69, 61 p.

Industry Sector

Fishing-related industries were combined into an industry sector: seafood sales and processing. Fishing-related industries were chosen from the County Business Patterns Data Series based on data availability and perceived relevance to fishing activities.

Inflation-Adjusted (Real) Dollars

Inflation-adjusted (real) dollars, also known as constant dollars, is a term describing income after adjustment for inflation. Inflation-adjusted value is a value expressed in dollars adjusted for purchasing power. Inflation-adjusted values represent an effort to remove the effects of price changes from statistical series reported in dollar terms.

Key Species or Species Groups

Up to 10 species or species groups were chosen as “key” species or species groups due to their regional importance to commercial and recreational fisheries. The regional importance of these key species or species groups was chosen based on their economic and/or historical or cultural significance to a state or region.

Landings

The round (whole) weight volume (typically in pounds for this report) of fish unloaded by commercial fishermen. Landings are reported at the locations at which fish are brought to shore.

Source

Blackhart, K., D. G. Stanton, and M. Shimada (eds.). 2005. NOAA Fisheries Glossary, Revised edition, June 2006. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO-69, 61 p.

Landings Prices

Landings prices are calculated as unit values, the ratio of landings revenues divided by landings (volume). Landings prices may also be called ex-vessel prices. Prices in the aquaculture sector are called farm-gate prices.

Landing Revenues

The dollar value of commercial fisheries landings. Landings revenues may also be called landings value, ex-vessel revenues, or ex-vessel value. Revenues in the aquaculture sector are called farm-gate revenues or farm-gate value.

License Limitation Program or Limited Entry Program

A management tool available to fishery managers where the number of commercial fishermen or vessels licensed to participate in a fishery is legally restricted. A management agency often uses this management tool to limit entry into a fishery.

Source

Blackhart, K., D. G. Stanton, and M. Shimada (eds.). 2005. NOAA Fisheries Glossary, Revised edition, June 2006. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO-69, 61 p.

Limited Access Privilege Program (LAPP)

As defined in the Magnuson-Stevens Act, LAPPs limit participation in a fishery to those satisfying certain eligibility criteria or requirements contained in a fishery management plan (FMP) or associated regulation. A limited access privilege is a federal permit, issued as part of a limited access system, to harvest a quantity of fish expressed by a unit or units representing a portion of the total allowable catch (TAC) of the fishery that may be received or held for exclusive use by a person. A LAPP includes an individual fishing quota (IFQ) or individual tradable quota (ITQ) but does not include community development quotas (CDQs). LAPPs are sometimes known as Dedicated Access Privileges (DAPs). However, unlike LAPPs, DAPs generally encompass CDQs as well as IFQs (see “Dedicated Access Privileges”). LAPPs are a type of catch share program. See also “Catch Share Program.”

Source

NOAA Fisheries. Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act or Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA)

Federal legislation responsible for establishing the Regional Fishery Management Councils (FMCs) and the mandatory and discretionary guidelines for federal fishery management plans (FMPs). This legislation was originally enacted in 1976 as the Fishery Management and Conservation Act. Its name was changed to the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act in 1980, and in 1996 it was renamed the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

Source

Blackhart, K., D. G. Stanton, and M. Shimada (eds.). 2005. NOAA Fisheries Glossary, Revised edition, June 2006. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO-69, 61 p.

NOAA Fisheries. Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

Overcapitalization

When the amount of harvesting capacity in a fishery exceeds the amount needed to harvest the desired amount of fish at least cost.

Source

FAO Fisheries Department. Fisheries Term Portal.

Overfished

1. An overfished stock or stock complex “whose size is sufficiently small that a change in management practices is required to achieve an appropriate level and rate of rebuilding.” A stock or stock complex is considered overfished when its population size falls below the minimum stock size threshold (MSST). A rebuilding plan is required for stocks that are deemed overfished.

2. A stock is considered overfished when exploited beyond an explicit limit past which its abundance is considered “too low” to ensure safe reproduction. In many fisheries, the term is used when biomass has been estimated to be below a biological reference point that is used as the signpost defining an “overfished condition.”

Source

Blackhart, K., D. G. Stanton, and M. Shimada (eds.). 2005. NOAA Fisheries Glossary, Revised edition, June 2006. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO-69, 61 p.

Overfishing

1. According to the National Standard Guidelines, “overfishing occurs whenever a stock or stock complex is subjected to a rate or level of fishing mortality that jeopardizes the capacity of a stock or stock complex to produce maximum sustainable yield (MSY) on a continuing basis.” Overfishing is occurring if the maximum fishing mortality threshold (MFMT) is exceeded for 1 year or more.

2. In general, the action of exerting fishing pressure (fishing intensity) beyond the agreed optimum level. A reduction of fishing pressure would, in the medium term, lead to an increase in the total catch.

Source

Blackhart, K., D. G. Stanton, and M. Shimada (eds.). 2005. NOAA Fisheries Glossary, Revised edition, June 2006. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO-69, 61 p.

Protected Species

Refers to any species that is protected by either the Endangered Species Act (ESA) or the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), and that is under the jurisdiction of NOAA Fisheries. This total includes all threatened, endangered, and candidate species, as well as all cetaceans and pinnipeds, excluding walruses.

Source

Terry, J., J. Walden, and J. Kirkley. 2008. National Assessment of Excess Harvesting Capacity in Federally Managed Commercial Fisheries.

Recreational Fisheries

Fishing for leisure rather than to sell fish (commercial fishing) or for subsistence. The economic impacts of recreational fishing activities are based on spending by recreational anglers. The recreational fisheries section reports on sales impacts, the number of jobs supported, income impacts, and value-added impacts from expenditures.

Release

The number of individual fish caught by a recreational angler that are then returned to the sea (dead or alive). In Hawaiʻi and the Atlantic and Gulf states, release does not include fish returned to the sea that are dead. See also “Catch” and “Harvest.”

Resident

A resident in the U.S. table refers to a recreational angler who resides inside the United States; a resident in the regional and state tables refers to an angler who resides in the state where they fished.

Sales Impacts

The gross value of all sales by regional businesses affected by an activity, such as recreational or commercial fishing. For example, it includes both the direct sales made by the angler (commercial fisherman) and sales made between businesses and households resulting from that original sale by the angler (commercial fisherman).

Sources

Lovell, S. J., J. Hilger, S. Steinback, and C. Hutt. 2016. The Economic Contribution of Marine Angler Expenditures on Durable Goods in the United States, 2014. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO-165, 72 p.

Kirkley, J. The NMFS Commercial Fishing & Seafood Industry Input/Output Model (CFSI I/O Model).

Lovell, S. J., J. Hilger, N. A. Olsen, and S. Steinback. 2020. The Economic Contribution of Marine Angler Expenditures on Fishing Trips in the United States, 2017. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO-201, 80p.

Species

A group of animals or plants having common characteristics that are able to breed together to produce fertile (capable of reproducing) offspring and maintain their “separateness” from other groups.

Source

Blackhart, K., D. G. Stanton, and M. Shimada (eds.). 2005. NOAA Fisheries Glossary, Revised edition, June 2006. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO-69, 61 p.

Species Group

A group of species considered together because they are difficult to differentiate without detailed examination (very similar species), or because data for the separate species are not available (for example, in fishery statistics or commercial categories).

Source

Blackhart, K., D. G. Stanton, and M. Shimada (eds.). 2005. NOAA Fisheries Glossary, Revised edition, June 2006. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO-69, 61 p.

Threatened Species

As defined by the Endangered Species Act (ESA), a threatened species is any species that is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. See also “Endangered Species.”

Source

NOAA Fisheries. Endangered Species Act.

Total Annual Durable Expenditures

Total annual durable expenditures are estimated by multiplying mean durable expenditures by the estimated annual number of adult participants at the state level or the national level and adjusted by the Consumer Price Index to the current year.

Total Annual Trip Expenditures

Total annual trip expenditures are estimated at the state level by multiplying mean trip expenditures by the estimated number of adult trips in each trip mode (for-hire, private boat, and shore) and adjusted by the Consumer Price Index to the current year. The trip expenditures at the national level is the sum of state trip expenditures in each mode.

Trip Expenditures

Expenses incurred by recreational fishermen (anglers) on a fishing trip. Trip expenditures include expenditures made by residents (individuals who reside in a coastal or non-coastal county within a given state; a U.S. resident) and non-residents (individuals who do not reside within the United States).

Value-Added Impacts

The contribution made to the gross domestic product in a region from commercial fishing landings and recreational fishing expenditures.

Sources

Lovell, S. J., J. Hilger, S. Steinback, and C. Hutt. 2016. The Economic Contribution of Marine Angler Expenditures on Durable Goods in the United States, 2014. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO-165, 72 p.

Kirkley, J. The NMFS Commercial Fishing & Seafood Industry Input/Output Model (CFSI I/O Model).

Lovell, S. J., J. Hilger, N. A. Olsen, and S. Steinback. 2020. The Economic Contribution of Marine Angler Expenditures on Fishing Trips in the United States, 2017. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO-201, 80p.