A bioeconomic analysis of the texas shrimp fishery and its optimal management

Overfishing in the Texas shrimp fishing industry by time period and fishing area is investigated. An optimal harvesting pattern is determined using a multiperiod mathematical programming model where prices, fishing effort, catch, and resource dynamics are treated endogenously. These results are then compared with actual effort. The comparison indicates substantial excess effort in spring and early summer, especially in the bays and shallow offshore areas. The peak fishing season also occurs later in the fall in optimal harvest pattern than in practice. The results indicate both producers and consumers gain from reduced fishing effort because of improved size composition of the harvest.