Tracking Changes on Fishery Economic Performance
August 29, 2018
– Continuous Economic Data Collection Programs for the Hawaii and American Samoa Longline Fisheries 2005–2016
The purpose of this report is twofold. First, it provides a first-time comprehensive review of the establishment and implementation of continuous economic data collection programs of two important fisheries, the Hawaii longline fishery and the American Samoa longline fishery, managed under the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council’s fishery management plans. Second, this report presents trends of the economic performance indicators from the beginning of the continuous economic data collection programs, 2005 being the first full year for the Hawaii longline fishery, and 2006 for the American Samoa longline fishery, through 2016. The economic performance indicators presented in this report include not only fishing cost data collected through the data collection programs, but also net revenue information resulting from the integration of primary data (from the economic data collection programs) and secondary economic data. In addition, since database development and management are necessary to ensure data quality and timely products, this report illustrates the database system designs and management associated with products of these economic data collection programs. The trend data show declining economic performance of the American Samoa longline fishery. They also show substantial changes in bigeye tuna (deep-set) fishing and swordfish (shallow-set) fishing in the Hawaii longline fishery, a gradually increasing trend of the economic returns (net revenue) for deep-set tuna fishing, with fluctuations of economic returns for shallow-set swordfish fishing. Compared to 2005, the average net revenue per trip of deep-set tuna fishing has increased 83%, from $26,694 per trip in 2005 (adjusted to 2016 dollars) to $48,782 per trip in 2016. The annual average of trip net revenue of the highest year was more than twice the net revenue of the lowest year for shallow-set swordfish fishing (2016 vs. 2010). However, there was no particular downward or upward trend with respect to shallow-set swordfish fishing trip net revenue during the report period. Fuel cost is the main expenditure for both Hawaii longline and American Samoa longline trips, approximately 50%. The study shows that variations of trip expenditures across years corresponded closely to changes in fuel prices. Linking fishing cost data with vessel logbook data also allows us to examine fishing costs by area. The data show that average trip costs for EPO (Eastern Pacific Ocean) fishing trips were the highest compared to trip costs within EEZs (exclusive economic zones) or WCPO (Western and central Pacific Ocean) areas for both deepset tuna fishing and shallow-set swordfish fishing. The data suggest that travel distance is another important determinant of fishing trip cost of Hawaii longline, as EPO is farther away from Honolulu port compared to WCPO.