Evolution of Profitability and Fisher Attitudes 1990 - 2000 in the Irish Sea, - an Overfished Fishery

Research PaperThe Irish Sea, being an area fairly discrete and partially isolated from adjoining fishing grounds, lends itself well to research studies. The area is fished by Ireland and the United Kingdom, with limited effort by France and Belgium, and has been known to be overfished for quite a long time. Interview surveys of Irish fishers in 1991 and 2000 sought data on costs, earnings and fisher attitudes, with special attention to the fishers’ MRTP (Marginal Rates of Time Preference) discount rates. Profitability was reported highly variable in both 1991 and 2000, with fisher attitudes in 1991 pessimistic and sceptical of possibility of improvement through regulation, though slightly less so in 2000, and with discount rates high, and higher for uncaught but catchable fish than for money. The two surveys are compared and reasons for differences postulated. The Irish fleet grew considerably smaller during the inter-survey period, and this and the discovery of markets for two previously unexploited shellfish stocks was accompanied by some improvement in results. Of ten boats common to both surveys, eight showed improved profit as a percentage of costs (two reduced losses, one loss changed to profit and five increased profits) as opposed to four reductions in profit. Comparison of the findings of these surveys with a rather similar one carried out in 1977 shows how much overfishing had increased from 1977 to 1991