Progress 12/01/07 to 11/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience: The Alaska fisheries studies are intended to inform Alaska fishery managers, policy makers and stakeholder groups.. This includes the Alaska Board of Fisheries, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the National Marine Fisheries Service and the North Pacific Fisheries Management Agency. The projects are also designed to inform commercial crab and harvesters both for crab and finfish as well as other stakeholder groups such as processors. The food security effort has a very broad targeted audience that includes Alaska food growers, regional governments, state government, state and federal agencies and non profit organizations and citizens. This project is part of the ADAP Regional Food Security and Sufficiency Project and therefore is also targeted at the ADAP member states throughout the Pacific. The Alaska livestock project and food production project is intended to inform agricultural producers, state and federal agencies and policy makers. The CHL project has a broad audience of the university community, educationists, nutritionists, stakeholder in local food systems, state and federal agencies, and state, jurisdiction and federal policy makers. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Alaska Dogfish Fishery: The development of a directed Alaska Dogfish Fishery led to a Ph.D. graduate student dissertation by Jason Gasper. "Policy and Market Analysis of World Dogfish Fisheries and an Evaluation of the Feasibility of a Dogfish Fishery in Waters of Alaska, USA. Salmon Economic Study: Jack Gadamus completed his M.S. thesis " The Effect of the Double Stacking Permit Regulation to the Bristol Bay Commercial Salmon Fishery." Economics of Local Small Scale Agriculture Production: An undergraduate senior thesis by Charles Caster, "Assessing Food Security in Fairbanks, Alaska: A Survey Approach to Community Food Production. AFES. Agroborealis Vol 42:1 The Alaska Livestock project resulted in the Alaska Livestock Conference, which was designed specifically to give the University direction in research, education and outreach in supporting an Alaskan Sustainable Livestock Industry. A white paper was developed from this conference, and a series of actions items were drafted. The results obtained from stakeholder input during the conference was used to guide future grant submissions and other supporting activities. An Alaska Sustainable Livestock project was initiated through assistance of a USDA grant as well as other state and federal support. This project continues this programs work on Alaska sustainable food systems and food security. The Alaska Sustainable Livestock project activity focused on organizing and conducting an Alaska sustainable Livestock Conference. The conference was held in Anchorage Alaska on October 13-14, 2011. This conference is intended to help the University in directing its future efforts in research, education and extension toward supporting a viable Alaska livestock industry that will help address Alaska food security needs. The conference was attended by University personnel, agency representatives, producers and processors, and other interested stakeholders. Peonies Price Analysis: Mr. Jim Auer. MS Thesis: "Harvesting and selling Alaska Cut Flower Peonies. Also published with Joshua Greenberg, Peonies: An Economic Background for Alaska Flower Growers as an AFES Publication. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Alaska Dogfish Fishery: This data was provided to the Alaska Board of Fisheries and North Pacific Fishery Management Council. Size limits of Tanner Crab: The Alaska Tanner crab analysis was presented to the Alaska Board of Fisheries prior to the Board making its final decision on the harvest size limit proposal.The presented analysis was cited as being an important consideration to the Board in its deliberations and decision to lower the harvest size limits.The results were presented to fishery managers, and stake holders through presentation at meeting of the Alaska Board of Fisheries and the Alaska Crab Plan Team. The results were presented to the Alaska Board of Fisheries at it March 2011 meeting and at the PICES annual meeting, Khabarovsk, Russia, October, 2011. Salmon Economic Study: through publication through a master's thesis. Findings made available to fishery managers and policy makers. Economics of Local Small Scale Agriculture Production: AFES. Agroborealis Vol 42:1. Results from the Food Production Survey were presented at the Alaska SARE in March of 2011. The results were also made available to the public through the SNRAS/AFES website. Alaska Sustainable Livestock Conference held in Anchorage Alaska on October 13-14, 2011 Peony project: Presented findings to Peony Growers Conference . What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? This is the final report for this capacity funded project, but the CHIL project continues through competitive funding.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Alaska Crab Fisheries Individuall Fishery Quotas(IFQ) was not funded by the Alaska Fish & Game so we had to drop this project and move on to the second goal. Alaska Dogfish Fishery: The development of the bioeconomic model led develoing a biological model for a sustainable dogfish fishery. Results indicated the fishery would have the highest catch rates in the Eastern Gulf of Alaska, including waters off Southeast, Alaska. Results from the Alaska dogfish commercial fishery project indicate that the dogfish market is adulterated. Media attention resulting from overfishing sharks has reduced demand for dogfish products in Europe. Overcoming the loss of market share will require eco-labeling to inform consumers about sustainable dogfish stocks. A profitable fishery will likely require regulatory changes and improved stock assessment to allow a directed fishery. Size limits of Tanner Crab: Findings from the Tanner crab study were disseminated to stimulate discussion and feedback from various stakeholders. Several trends are clear. First, a reduction in legal male size limit increases the abundance of legal males and exploitable legal males as successively smaller males are counted as "legal". Second, yield per recruit is maximized at the lowest sizelimit and maximized at the highest harvest rates. Conversely, spawning stock biomass per recruit is maximized at the highest size limits and lowest harvest rates. Third, under the current rate harvest strategy, there is a somewhat counterintuitive reduction in average fishery yield with implementation of a reduced size limit.The principal conclusions from the study are as follows: A reduced size limit appears to convey the following benefits: reduced discard mortality of sublegal males, higher legal CPUE, higher yield per recruit, more consistent product supply. One tradeoff is a slight reduction in spawning stock biomass per recruit. Choice of size limit depends on particular weighting of management objectives, but it seems that a reduction in size limit is indicated, particularly for the Pribilof Islands area. Salmon Economic Study: This study provided understanding in two principal areas of concern for the Alaska salmon fisheries: local participation in the fisheries and the economic viability of Alaska salmon fisheries that had recently been compromised by competition from farmed fish. The focus of this study was specifically on the Bristol Bay commercial salmon fishery, which is the world's most valuable wild salmon fishery. Of interest to this study is understanding whether these two areas of concerns, local participation and economic viability form conflicting policy goals.The examination focused on a recent enacted fishery policy that allowed the double stacking of limited entry permits on a single vessel. The findings of the Bristol Bay commercial salmon analysis are that fishery income of local participants relative to that of non local participants may be a key driver of outmigration of permits from the Bristol Bay region. The double stacking regulation, to the extent that it widened the income gap between local resident and non-local resident groups, may have acted to further depress local fishery participation. The results caution fishery managers that polices which only address fishery profitability may act to exasperate the problem of reduced local resident participation in the fishery. Economics of Local Small Scale Agriculture Production The Alaska Tanana Valley food production project involved a survey of local commercial vegetable and fruit producers. Producers reported that local residents have shown increasing interest in buying locally grown food and that in turn their revenues were increasing. Despite the small size of current farm (> 3acres), the operation were highly productive. It was found that on average, an acre of land was able to provide 40 Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscriptions. Assuming that each subscription services 4 individuals, this indicates that the 54 local farms have the potential to supply 25, 000+ people with a substantial portion of their fruits and vegetables during the 18 week growing season. The potential to expand production and to feed more families in the Tanana Valley is great. However, current marketing outlets are cost, time, and labor intensive. A central marketing outlet like a cooperative market or other ways of decreasing the transaction costs between producers and consumers could serve as an important outlet for growers. Peonies Price Analysis: Alaska's northern location and distance from markets limits the state's ability to grow its agricultural industry. The peony market, however, represents a case where the state's location provides a market advantage in that blooms occur later than other markets providing a niche market. This prospect has excited Alaska growers. However, as with any new endeavor, there are many unknowns that must be addressed to successfully take advantage of this opportunity. To achieve this goal a hedonic price model was applied to US peony data. This study was designed to help growers understand how basic marketing decisions and cultivar characteristics affect the pricing of cut flower peonies in U.S. wholesale markets. Based on project results the analysis provided several recommendations to Alaska's current, and/or potential peony growers. These include that Alaska flower growers should work on developing relationships with buyers in the Northeast US and that Alaska flower growers should remain focused on double bloom varieties of peonies as opposed to single blooms. The Alaska Livestock project resulted in the Alaska Livestock Conference, which was designed specifically to give the University direction in research, education and outreach in supporting an Alaskan Sustainable Livestock Industry. Economic considerations include the current lack of information on in-state demand for locally produced meat. A demand analysis would be helpful in uncovering demand elasticities that would inform producers of market responses to increased supply. Stakeholders identified the need for Alaska livestock enterprise budgets. Finally, slaughter and processing opportunities need to be investigated to better serve livestock producers and consumers. Children for Healthy Living (CHL):This on-going project is a large scale effort that teams researchers from Alaska and other Land Grant Colleges and other regional partners of the Pacific region (Hawaii, SNMI, Guam, America Samoa, and the Federated States of Micronesia). This capacity and competitively funded project, has resulted in partnerships with Head Start programs in the study communities and discussions regarding future cooperation with State health organizations. Community assessment tools (CAT) collected data on community conditions like the availabilty of playgrounds, food or grocery stores and school facilities. A food cost survey was developed based on USDA Food Security toolkit and thrift food plan menu.
Publications
|
Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The Alaska Natural Resources and Economic Sustainability project was focused this year on the Children Healthy Living project. This is a large scale effort that teams together researchers from Alaska and other Land Grant Colleges and other regional partners of the Pacific region (Hawaii, SNMI, Guam, America Samoa, and the Federated States of Micronesia). Funding for this 5-year project is from the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture. As noted in a previous report, the linkage between the Alaska Natural Resources and Economic Sustainability program and CHL is through sustainable food systems and its connection to public health and through community capacity building. The goals for the CHL program are to 1. "Conduct local program inventories and needs assessments using community based participatory approaches in order to identify culturally and economically sustainable approaches to affect community, family, and child healthy food intake and active play/ physical activity behavior, 2. Train professionals in each of the jurisdictions who will continue on an ongoing basis to children's healthy living, 3. Conduct intervention in diet and physical activity that will result in measureable improvements in childhood obesity, and 4. Incur at least one environmental policy change in each of the jurisdictions." This year the focus of the CHL program has been in partnership building, recruitment and anthropometric measurements of study participants (children ages 2-5 year olds) and development of the community assessment toolkits. The community assessment toolkits are in draft form at this time. Development of the toolkits have drawn on the efforts of successful public health related programs in the United States such as Bridging the Gap at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Institute for Health Research and Policy (IHRP), and CX3 Community of Excellence program of the State of California. Food and physical activity logs have also been developed. These have been provided to parents and anthropometric measurements have been taken of recruited children. This year the sustainable livestock project did not result in specific outputs. However, a white paper from the Alaska Sustainable Livestock Conference is in development. There are also plans to develop proposals to fund research needs identified in the conference. PARTICIPANTS: Milan Shipka, University of Alaska Fairbanks; Craig Gerlach, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Jan Rowell, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Bret Luick, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Andrea Bersamin, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Rachel Novotney, University of Hawaii, Claudio Nigg, University of Hawaii, Don Vargo, American Samoa Community College, Robert Barber, University of Guam TARGET AUDIENCES: The CHL project has a broad audience of the university community, educationists, nutritionists, stakeholder in local food systems, state and federal agencies, and state, jurisdiction and federal policy makers. The Alaska livestock project and food production project is intended to inform agricultural producers, state and federal agencies and policy makers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The CHL healthy living project is in the assessment, inventory and recruitment stages. To-date participants have been recruited in the 2 intervention communities, Fairbanks and Kenai and in one of the paired non-target communities, Wasilla. Recruitment will continue next year in each of the intervention communities as well as the paired communities of Wasilla and Anchorage. Partnerships have been developed in recruitment stage with Head Start programs in the study communities and discussions regarding future cooperation have been undertaken with State health organizations. An additional outcome of the CHL program has been in training. The CHL program is funding two graduate students who are developing research programs and engaged in academic programs that will provide sustainable benefits to home communities.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The Alaska Natural Resources and Economic Sustainability project was engaged in several activities over the past year. This included presentation and publication of final results for the Alaska Tanner crab analysis. The results from the Tanner crab analysis were presented to the Alaska Board of Fisheries at it March 2011 meeting and at the PICES annual meeting, Khabarovsk, Russia, October, 2011. The local food production for the Alaska Tanana Valley project was completed this year. Preliminary results from the Food Production Survey were presented at the Alaska SARE in March of 2011. The results were also made available to the public through the SNRAS/AFES website. This year also saw the completion of the Alaska Dogfish Bioeconomic analysis. In addition, there were two new projects that were undertaken as part of this program. An Alaska Sustainable Livestock project was initiated through assistance of a USDA grant as well as other state and federal support. This project continues this programs work on Alaska sustainable food systems and food security. The Alaska Sustainable Livestock project activity this year was focused on organizing and conducting an Alaska sustainable Livestock Conference. The conference was held in Anchorage Alaska on October 13-14, 2011. This conference is intended to help the University in directing its future efforts in research, education and extension toward supporting a viable Alaska livestock industry that will help address Alaska food security needs. The conference was attended by University personnel, agency representatives, producers and processors, and other interested stakeholders. Second, this program moved into a new area of research, childhood obesity. The Children's Healthy Living Program (CHL), received competitive funding from the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Grant, USDA. This project is a collaborative effort with University of Hawaii and Universities/Colleges of six other US Pacific Island jurisdictions. The interest of the Alaska Natural Resources and Economic Sustainability program in childhood obesity emanates from the work that was undertaken on Alaska sustainable food systems. Obesity can be viewed through the lens of availability and affordability of healthy foods. Within this context the local food system has a major role in addressing increased obesity within our society. The goals for the CHL program are to 1. "Conduct local program inventories and needs assessments using community based participatory approaches.in order to identify culturally and economically sustainable approaches to affect community, family, and child healthy food intake and active play/ physical activity behavior, 2. Train professionals in each of the jurisdictions who will continue on an ongoing basis to children's healthy living, 3. Conduct intervention in diet and physical activity that will result in measureable improvements in childhood obesity, and 4. Incur at least one environmental policy change in each of the jurisdictions." PARTICIPANTS: Gordon Kruse, University of Alaska Fairbanks Jason Gasper, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Milan Shipka, University of Alaska Fairbanks; Craig Gerlach, University of Alaska Fairbanks], Jan Rowell, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Bret Luick, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Andrea Bersamin, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Rachel Novotney, University of Hawaii, Claudio Nigg, University of Hawaii, Don Vargo, American Samoa Community College, Robert Barber, University of Guam. TARGET AUDIENCES: The Alaska fisheries studies are intended to inform Alaska fishery managers and policy makers. This includes the Alaska Board of Fisheries, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the National Marine Fisheries Service and the North Pacific Fisheries Management Agency. The projects are also designed to inform commercial crab and harvesters both for crab and finfish as well as other stakeholder groups such as processors. The Alaska livestock project and food production project is intended to inform agricultural producers, state and federal agencies and policy makers. The CHL project has a broad audience of the university community, educationists, nutritionists, stakeholder in local food systems, state and federal agencies, and state, jurisdiction and federal policy makers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
The Alaska Tanner crab analysis was presented to the Alaska Board of Fisheries (Board) at their March meeting prior to the Board making its final decision on the harvest size limit proposal. The presented analysis was cited as being an important consideration to the Board in its deliberations and decision to lower the harvest size limits. The Alaska Tanana Valley food production project involved a survey of local commercial vegetable and fruit producers. Producers reported that local residents have shown increasing interest in buying locally grown food and that in turn their revenues were increasing. Despite the small size of current farm (> 3acres), the operation were highly productive. It was found that on average, an acre of land was able to provide 40 Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscriptions. Assuming that each subscription services 4 individuals, this indicates that the 54 local farms have the potential to supply 25, 000+ people with a substantial portion of their fruits and vegetables during the 18 week growing season. The potential to expand production and to feed more families in the Tanana Valley is great. However, current marketing outlets are cost, time, and labor intensive. A central marketing outlet like a cooperative market or other ways of decreasing the transaction costs between producers and consumers could serve as an important outlet for growers. The Alaska Livestock project resulted in the Alaska Livestock Conference, which was designed specifically to give the University direction in research, education and outreach in supporting an Alaskan Sustainable Livestock Industry. A white paper is being developed from this conference, and a series of actions items are being drafted. The results obtained from stakeholder input during the conference are being used to guide future grant submissions and other supporting activities. Economic considerations include the current lack of information on in-state demand for locally produced meat. A demand analysis would be helpful in uncovering demand elasticities that would inform producers of market responses to increased supply. Stakeholders identified the need for Alaska livestock enterprise budgets. Finally, slaughter and processing opportunities need to be investigated to better serve livestock producers and consumers. Results from the Alaska dogfish commercial fishery project indicate that the dogfish market is adulterated. Media attention resulting from overfishing has reduced demand for dogfish products in Europe. Overcoming the loss of market share will require eco-labeling to inform consumers about sustainable dogfish stocks. A profitable fishery will likely require regulatory changes and improved stock assessment to allow a directed fishery. In addition, establishing robust market channels between Alaska and Europe will likely require some form of eco-labeling. The CHL healthy living project is in the beginning stages of collecting feedback from selected communities and engagement in other situational analyses activities. Information gained will be used in site selection for the study within each of the jurisdictions and the selection of interventions.
Publications
- W. Bechtol, G. Kruse, J.A. Greenberg, H. Geier. "Analysis of the Minimum Size Limit for Eastern Bering Sea Tanner Crab Fisheries." Final Report to the Alaska Board of Fisheries. March, 2011.
- Gasper, Jason. "Policy and Market Analysis of World Dogfish Fisheries and an Evaluation of the Feasibility of a Dogfish Fishery in Waters of Alaska, USA." PhD Dissertation, University of Alaska Fairbanks. August, 2011.
- Caster, Charles. Assessing Food Security in Fairbanks Alaska: A Survey Approach to Community Food Production. Senior Thesis, University of Alaska Fairbanks. May, 2011.
|
Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: OUTPUTS: The Alaska Natural Resources and Economic Sustainability project moved in to new areas this year, with projects on Alaska sustainable food systems and salmon fishery. These complement continuing work on Alaska sustainable fisheries. Work continued this year on the dogfish bio-economic model, with progress made on collecting economic data. As noted previously, data availability for production, supply and product flow from producers to consumers is very incomplete. This has frustrated efforts at developing dogfish market supply and demand models. The development of economic models is critical to understanding how declines in dogfish population affect markets. This year a mixed modeling technique was used to examine the relationship between price and supply of spiny dogfish. The Tanner crab analysis was completed this year. Last year the preliminary findings were reported. This study came from a request from industry based on their concern declines in size of maturity had compromised the fisheries' economic viability. Furthermore, a lower minimum size limit may help promote fishery sustainability. A bioeconomic framework was constructed to consider the implications of reduced sized limits to the biological and economic sustainability of the fisheries. The economic components of the analyses included an examination of utilization of the Tanner crab fishery by the Alaska crab harvesters, the productivity of the fisheries, economic costs and price and market considerations. A new project that was undertaken this year to better understand how fisheries policies may affect two principal areas of concern in the Alaska salmon fisheries: local participation in the fisheries and the economic viability of Alaska salmon fisheries that have recently been compromised by competition from farmed fish. The focus of this study was specifically on the Bristol Bay commercial salmon fishery, which is the world's most valuable wild salmon fishery. Of interest to this study is understanding whether these two areas of concerns, local participation and economic viability form conflicting policy goals. The examination focused a recent enacted fishery policy that allows the double stacking of limited entry permits on a single vessel. A times series model was developed for the analaysis. Finally, the issues of Alaska food security and sustainable food systems are to be addressed through a project begun this year. Alaska has imported almost all food consumed since the Russians first came to its shores. The remote location of Alaska and has made its food supplies vulnerable to potential supply disruptions and to costs increases related to transportation and energy. This study will begin to address the topics of food security and sustainable food systems by developing a better understanding of how much food consumed in Alaska is produced in Alaska and by developing a more complete understanding of the local food production system. The interior region of Alaska was chosen as pilot area for a survey of local fruit and vegetable producers. The survey not only examines quantities produced, but also addresses current practices and challenges of local food producers. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: The sustainable Alaska fishery studies are targeted to fishery policy makers, managers and stakeholder groups. The principle policy making bodies are the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council and Alaska Board of Fisheries and principle fishery management agencies are the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the National Marine Fisheries Service. The food security effort has a very broad targeted audience that includes Alaska food growers, regional governments, state government, state and federal agencies and non profit organizations and citizens. This project is part of the ADAP Regional Food Security and Sufficiency Project and therefore is also targeted at the ADAP member states throughout the Pacific. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
The outcomes for the Alaska Tanner crab analysis were described last year. The model was refined and minor changes made, however, the principle conclusion remain unchanged. The principal conclusions from the study are as follows: A reduced size limit appears to convey the following benefits: reduced discard mortality of sublegal males, higher legal CPUE, higher yield per recruit, more consistent product supply. One tradeoff is a slight reduction in spawning stock biomass per recruit. Choice of size limit depends on particular weighting of management objectives, but it seems that a reduction in size limit is indicated, particularly for the Pribilof Islands area. The results were presented to fishery managers, and stake holders through presentation at meeting of the Alaska Board of Fisheries and the Alaska Crab Plan Team. The results to-date from the dogfish study show the main market for to be segmented by product category and geography, although no information is available about other types of market segmentation such as demographics. The primary demand segments are fresh meat in France, Italy, and the UK; frozen meat in France, UK, South Korea, and potentially other Asian countries and Russia; smoked product in Germany; and Chinese fin markets. Evaluation of capture and trade statistics showed New Zealand and North America to be the primary sources of dogfish supply for both Asia and EU. Dogfish price for both fresh and frozen product imported into the EU showed significant sensitivity to supply, with the exception of Germany, which was more elastic to changes in supply than other EU countries. These results show declines in stocks have likely resulted in reductions in supply and subsequent price increases for dogfish. The preliminary findings of the Bristol Bay commercial salmon analysis are that fishery income of local participants relative to that of non local participants may be a key driver of outmigration of permits from the Bristol Bay region. The double staking regulation, to the extent that it widened the income gap between local resident and non-local resident groups, may have acted to further depress local fishery participation. The results caution fishery managers that polices which only address fishery profitability may act to exasperate the problem of reduced local resident participation in the fishery, The Tanana Valley Alaska Vegetable and Fruit Producer survey was developed and administered to vegetable and fruit producers. The survey was mailed to producers and also available on-line. In-person interviews were also conducted and some surveys were completed in this fashion. Surveys were completed by approximately 42% of the local producers. The results of the survey will be compiled and disseminated in 2011. responses to the survey revealed that it will be difficult to develop direct estimates of food production. Many growers do not record their production in a manner that allows for tracking of quantities of individual vegetable varieties.
Publications
- W. Bechtol, G. Kruse, J.A. Greenberg, H. Geier. Analysis of the Minimum Size Limit for Eastern Bering Sea Tanner Crab Fisheries: A Preliminary Report to the Alaska Board of Fisheries. March, 2010.
- Greenberg, J.A., W. Bechtol, G. Kruse, J.A., H. Geier. "Economic Considerations in the Analysis of Minimum Size Limit for the Bering Sea Tanner Crab Fisheries." Appendix B in Analysis of the Minimum Size Limit for Eastern Bering Sea Tanner Crab Fisheries: A Preliminary Report to the Alaska Board of Fisheries. March, 2010
|
Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The Alaska Natural Resources and Economic Sustainability project focused on two areas this year. There is ongoing analysis of a sustainable commercial dogfish fishery for Alaska. This work has been ongoing in developing a bio-economic model. The outputs provided this year related to developing a model of dogfish catch and work on collecting market information. We attempted to fit several different types of models to spatially summarized dogfish data in the Gulf of Alaska. Modeling efforts using a GLM model with a conditional autocorrelation prior on the random effects component was not successful. The results from the Bayesian methodology to model spatial autocorrelation demonstrated that the number of hooks, depth of hooks, latitude, and longitude were all significant predictors for dogfish catch. Efforts on the economic component of the project focused on collecting market information. We obtained market data collected by customs for a variety of countries. The majority of dogfish is shipped frozen; however, the fresh market appears to be sizable. By volume the EU was the primary importer of dogfish. However, by value per kg of dogfish, Asian countries generally had the highest value product, which is not described in the literature. The nature of these high value products is unknown, but one possibility may be fin markets. The market data uncovered to-date has not been sufficiently rich or robust to support a economic supply and demand model. This is true despite considerable time being spent on economic data collection. A second project that was begun this year is development of sustainable strategies for Alaska Tanner crab fishery. Declines in the mean size of maturity for male Tanner crabs has declined significantly limiting the economic viability of the fishery. A reduction in the minimum size limit may be appropriate to better support a sustainable fishery. , that attain fishery management objectives of optimal sustained yields while maintaining spawning biomass. The project is divided into the following components: Analysis of crab observer data - An analysis of crab observer allows us to examine historical catch, bycatch, and discard rates. Analyses of yield per recruit and spawning biomass per recruit -Common biological reference points used to define overfishing are based upon biomass-per-recruit analyses. Analyses of fleet behavior toward the Tanner crab fishery- Fishery performance data are utilized to describe recent fleet performance and fishing characteristics of fishery participants. Analyses of economic costs and productivity considerations -A reduced minimum size limit should result in fewer discards, and improve effort productivity and therefore boost harvest revenue. Analysis of Tanner crab markets and price considerations -Prices for smaller size Tanner crab are a key concern in consideration of a reduced minimum size. Revenue related tradeoffs that a smaller size limit may introduce are examined--increased quantity but decreased price. Accordingly, expected market response to the availability of smaller Tanner crab is documented. PARTICIPANTS: Gordon Kruse, University of Alaska Fairbanks Jason Gasper, University of Alaska Faribanks Bill Bechtol, Bechtol Consulting, Homer, Alaska Hans Geier, University of Alaska Fairbanks TARGET AUDIENCES: Both studies are intended to inform Alaska fishery managers and policy makers. This includes the Alaska Board of Fisheries, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the National Marine Fisheries Service and the North Pacific Fisheries Management Agency. The projects are also designed to inform commercial crab harvesters both for crab and finfish as well as other stakeholder groups such as processors. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: In response to requests from commercial crab harvesters a major modification was made to this project. Alaska commercial crab harvesters were concerned about the current harvest strategy for Alaska Tanner crab. Overcapitalization, coupled to declines in Tanner crab harvests, had compromised the economic viability of the fishery in the past. Recently, a fishery rationalization program greatly increased the economic viability of the Tanner crab fishery, as well as other Bering Sea crab fisheries for those remaining fishery participants. Nevertheless, the economic viability of the Tanner continues to be compromised by a significant decline in mean sizes at maturity for male Tanner crabs in the Eastern Bring Sea since the mid 1970s. Given the recent decline in size of maturity, a reduction in the minimum size limit may be appropriate to better support a sustainable fishery that attain fishery management objectives of optimal sustained yields while maintaining spawning biomass. Changes to the Bering Sea Tanner size limit would have to be initiated by the Alaska Board of Fisheries and require a analysis of the biological and economic effects of the policy change. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game did not have the resources to conduct this study. Industry, appealed to us for help in providing the necessary analysis to the Alaska Board of Fisheries. Accordingly, the portion of this project that was devoted to Alaska crab fisheries was modified to meet this request.
Impacts
For the dogfish project, comparison of the four models using AIC and deviance statistics showed the quasi-Poisson followed by the hurdle model to be the best fit. As a result, the quasipoisson is the preferred model. Refinement of the model is required to resolve error structure issues. Even with the error structure problems, spatial smoothing compared with the raw data suggests reasonable model performance. The model will be further refined and used to qualitatively assess where fisheries for dogfish may occur. Preliminary results suggest the fishery would likely have the highest catch rates in the Eastern GOA, including waters off Southeast, Alaska. The analysis will be completed in a policy context to determine expected catch rates catch rates based on various effort levels. The market information uncovered to-date has highlighted the need for a better understanding of the Asian market and its importance to a commercial Alaska dogfish fishery. Unfortunately, current events in Asia have softened the fin market for shark in general and dogfish, specifically. A better understanding of market information is needed and we will continue our efforts in this area. Although, good progress has been made on modeling the biological portion of the system, modeling the economic or social system remains elusive due to data deficiencies. Preliminary findings from the Tanner crab study were disseminated to stimulate discussion and feedback from various stakeholders. Several trends are clear. First, a reduction in legal male size limit increases the abundance of legal males and exploitable legal males as successively smaller males are counted as "legal". Second, yield per recruit is maximized at the lowest size limit and maximized at the highest harvest rates. Conversely, spawning stock biomass per recruit is maximized at the highest size limits and lowest harvest rates. Third, under the current rate harvest strategy, there is a somewhat counterintuitive reduction in average fishery yield with implementation of a reduced size limit. Ideally, a management strategy evaluation would be conducted to examine the size limit that optimizes the tradeoffs between yield and conservation. Economically, declines in TAC associated with reduced size limits under the current harvest strategy are somewhat mitigated by increases in legal male CPUE, thus reducing the numbers of pot lifts needed to attain the TAC. Under current size limits, the fishery has not been economically viable as indicated by the fact that the TACs have not been fully harvested in recent years. Reductions in size limit increase fishery productivity, thus increasing the likelihood that TACs would be fully taken. Former price advantages for large Tanner crabs in Japanese markets have been lost owing to fishery closures and changes in the Japanese economy; currently, Tanner crabs enter domestic markets as large snow crabs. Reductions in Tanner crab size limit are unlikely to depress prices under current market conditions. Consistency in crab supply is more important to maintain market share and price
Publications
- Bechtol, B., G. Kruse, J. Greenberg, and H. Geier. Analysis of the Minimum Size Limit for Eastern Bering Sea Tanner Crab Fisheries: A Preliminary Report. University of Alaska Fairbanks. Dec., 2009.
- Auer, J.D., and J.A. Greenberg. Peonies: An Economic Background for Alaska Flower Growers. SNRAS/AFES Misc. Pub. MP 2009-08. June, 2009.
|
Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Starting at the end of May 2008, the National Marine Fisheries Service Marine Mammal Observer Program (MMOP) will be collecting length information for dogfish caught in the set net fishery located in Yakutat. They volunteered to collect dogfish length information in addition to their usual marine mammal collection program. The Yakutat public was informed about MMOP's efforts to collect length information when Jason Gasper, the graduate student working on this project, gave a public presentation. In this presentation, he informed the public about the purpose of the project and how the length information will be used in meeting project goals. In particular, he highlighted how size relates to the value of dogfish on the world market. The results from the data analysis of dogfish bycatch was presented at the Western Groundfish Conference in February, 2008. The Peony results were presented by Jim Auer a graduate student working on the project to Peony growers at conferences in Alaska. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Gordon Kruse. Presidents Professor of President's Professor of Fisheries, School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks. Mr. Jason Gasper, National Marine Fisheries Service Alaska Region, Sustainable Fisheries Division Mr. Jim Auer. MS Graduate in NAtural Resources and Applied Economics, School of Management, University of Alaska Fairbanks. TARGET AUDIENCES: Fishery managers and policy makers; Alaska Division of Fish & Game, National Marine Fisheries Service; Association of Peony Growers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: The major change in the project was the inclusion of the Peony analysis. It was determined that the scope of this analysis embraced the themes of this project in the development of sustainable natural resources industries for Alaska. Alaska, to-date has not participated in world cut flower markets and peonies provide an excellent opportunity for Alaska to expand its agricultural sector. A second modification is the proposed scaling back of the crab project. This change has been necessitated by the inability to obtain external funding to support the initial project. This new project is proposed as a interim measure as the original proposal is reconsidered.
Impacts
This is the first full year of the project. The project has been focused this period on development of a sustainable dogfish fishery for Alaska and on obtaining funding to support research on Alaska crab fisheries sustainability. In addition, the project was expanded this period to include an analysis of developing a new sustainable cut flower industry in Alaska for Peonies. The dogfish project focus has been on data analysis. This analysis is critical in the specification of the dogfish fishery bio-economic model. Progress over the year has included developments in several areas. Data collected by the Observer Program was obtained from the North Pacific Groundfish Observer Program. The observer information was used to analyze the distribution and frequency of dogfish catch in the hook-and-line fishery. Dogfish bycatch was also modeled using the information obtained from the observer program. Four types of models were compared for inclusion in the bioeconomic model. Some key findings included that the zero inflated models performed better than non-inflated models, with the negative binomial count distribution providing the best fit. Also, there was a strong spatial relationship that suggested dogfish counts increased with increasing latitude (likely inshore areas) and decreased with increasing longitude. International market data describing the quantity of dogfish imports, exports, and associated value was obtained from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. This data is being reviewed. The proposed Alaska crab project received a set back this year when the proposed project was turned down for external funding by the North Pacific Fishery Research Board. This has led to a reconsideration of the project and a new proposal with a more limited scope is being drafted in cooperation with the Alaska crab industry and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Alaska's northern location and distance from markets have limited the state's ability to grow its agricultural industry. The peony market, however, represents a case where the state's location may provide a market advantage. This prospect has excited Alaska growers, and many have already begun initial production activities. However, as with any new endeavor, there are many unknowns that must be addressed to successfully take advantage of this opportunity. To achieve this goal a hedonic price model is applied to US peony data. This study was designed to help growers understand how basic marketing decisions and cultivar characteristics affect the pricing of cut flower peonies in U.S. wholesale markets. Based on project results the analysis provides several recommendations to Alaska's current, and/or potential peony growers. These include that Alaska flower growers should work on developing relationships with buyers in the Northeast US and that Alaska flower growers should remain focused on double bloom varieties of peonies as opposed to single blooms. Finally, Alaska growers need to recognize that flowers coming from origin districts further from the wholesale market will have prices that appear inflated.
Publications
- Auer, J.D. 2008. Harvesting and selling Alaska cut flower peonies. MS Thesis. University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK
|
Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: This project just started in December.
PARTICIPANTS: The principal investigator is Joshua Greenberg, Associate Professor of Resource Economics and Chair of the Natural Resources Management Department in the School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences.
TARGET AUDIENCES: North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Alaska Board of Fisheries (BOF), and ADFG), fishery participants and other natural resources management stakeholders.
Impacts
The models to be constructed will be useful tools of natural resource managers for policy decision making.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
|