Environmental and Resource Economics

, Volume 51, Issue 4, pp 525–544 | Cite as

Optimal Harvest in an Age Structured Model with Different Fishing Selectivity

Article

Abstract

An age structured model of a fishery is studied where two fishing fleets, or fishing agents, are targeting two different mature age classes of the fish stock. The agents are using different fishing gear with different fishing selectivity. The model includes young and old mature fish that can be harvested, in addition to an age class of immature fish. The paper describes the optimal harvesting policy under different assumptions on the objectives of the social planner and on fishing selectivity. First, biomass yield is maximized under perfect fishing selectivity, second, equilibrium profit (rent) is maximized under perfect fishing selectivity, and third, equilibrium profit is maximized under imperfect fishing selectivity. The paper provides results that differ significantly from the standard lumped parameter (also surplus production, or biomass) model.

Keywords

Fishery economics Age model Optimal exploitation Selectivity 

JEL Classification

Q22 Q58 

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2011

Authors and Affiliations

  • Anders Skonhoft
    • 1
  • Niels Vestergaard
    • 2
  • Martin Quaas
    • 3
  1. 1.Department of EconomicsNorwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)Dragvoll-TrondheimNorway
  2. 2.Department of Environmental and Business EconomicsUniversity of Southern DenmarkEsbjergDenmark
  3. 3.Department of EconomicsUniversity of KielKielGermany

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