The Economic Performance of U.S. 

Non-Catch Share Programs 

Ayeisha A. Brinson, Eric M. Thunberg, and Katherine Farrow 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

National Marine Fisheries Service 

NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-F/SPO-150

February 2015

The Economic Performance of 

U.S. Non-Catch Share Programs 

Ayeisha A. Brinson, Eric M. Thunberg, and Katherine Farrow 

NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-F/SPO-150

February 2015

U.S. Department of Commerce 

Penny Pritzker, Secretary 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

Kathryn D. Sullivan, Administrator 

National Marine Fisheries Service 

Eileen Sobeck, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries
ii

Recommended citation: 

Brinson, A.A. E. M. Thunberg, and K. Farrow. 2015. The Economic Performance of U.S. NonCatch Share Programs. U.S. Dept. of Commer., NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-F/SPO-150, 

191 p.

Copies of this report may be obtained from: 

Rita Curtis, Ph.D. 

Office of Science and Technology 

National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA 

1315 East West Highway 

Silver Spring, MD 20910 

Or online at:

http://spo.nmfs.noaa.gov/tm/ or 

https://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/economics/fisheries/commercial/catch-share-program/index
iii

Table of Contents

List of Tables ............................................................................................................... v

List of Figures.............................................................................................................. v

Executive Summary..................................................................................................... xi

Introduction ................................................................................................................1

Fishery Performance Indicators....................................................................................1

Alaska Region..............................................................................................................6

A. Weathervane Scallops......................................................................................8

1. Fishery synopsis ..........................................................................................8

2. Management Program...................................................................................9

3. Management Objectives ................................................................................9

4. Recent Trends ........................................................................................... 10

B. Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish.......................................................................... 17

1. Fishery synopsis ........................................................................................ 17

2. Management Program................................................................................. 18

3. Management Objectives .............................................................................. 19

4. Recent Trends ........................................................................................... 19

West Coast Region ..................................................................................................... 29

A. West Coast Salmon Troll ................................................................................ 31

1. Fishery synopsis ........................................................................................ 31

2. Management Program................................................................................. 32

3. Management Objectives .............................................................................. 33

4. Recent Trends ........................................................................................... 34

B. Coastal Pelagics (Sardines and squids) ............................................................. 46

1. Fishery synopsis ........................................................................................ 46

2. Management Program................................................................................. 46

3. Management Objectives .............................................................................. 47

4. Recent Trends ........................................................................................... 48

C. Highly Migratory Species (albacore and swordfish) ............................................. 62

1. Fishery synopsis ........................................................................................ 62

2. Management Program................................................................................. 63

3. Management Objectives .............................................................................. 64

4. Recent Trends ........................................................................................... 65

Pacific Islands Region ................................................................................................. 81

A. Hawaiʻi-based Longline Fishery........................................................................ 83
iv

1. Fishery synopsis ........................................................................................ 83

2. Management Program................................................................................. 84

3. Management Objectives .............................................................................. 85

4. Recent Trends ........................................................................................... 86

B. Hawaiʻi Deep 7 Bottomfish Fishery ................................................................... 98

1. Fishery synopsis ........................................................................................ 98

2. Management Program................................................................................. 99

3. Management Objectives .............................................................................. 99

4. Recent Trends ......................................................................................... 100

C. American Samoa Longline ............................................................................ 112

1. Fishery synopsis ...................................................................................... 112

2. Management Program............................................................................... 113

3. Management Objectives ............................................................................ 113

4. Recent Trends ......................................................................................... 114

Greater Atlantic Region ............................................................................................. 123

A. Monkfish.................................................................................................... 125

1. Fishery synopsis ...................................................................................... 125

2. Management Program............................................................................... 126

3. Management Objectives ............................................................................ 127

4. Recent Trends ......................................................................................... 127

B. Limited Access Atlantic Sea Scallops .............................................................. 138

1. Fishery synopsis ...................................................................................... 138

2. Management Program............................................................................... 139

3. Management Objectives ............................................................................ 140

4. Recent Trends ......................................................................................... 140

Southeast Region ..................................................................................................... 150

A. Vermilion snapper ....................................................................................... 152

1. Fishery synopsis ...................................................................................... 152

2. Management Program............................................................................... 152

3. Management Objectives ............................................................................ 153

4. Recent Trends ......................................................................................... 154

Time Trends in Non-Catch Share Fisheries ................................................................... 164

1. Trends in Aggregate Quotas.......................................................................... 165

2. Indicator Trends (All Fisheries)...................................................................... 167

3. Indicator Trends (Fisheries with Trip and Days at Sea Data) .............................. 172
v

4. Trends in Revenue Indicators for Fisheries with Non-Fishery Species Revenue...... 176

Conclusions ............................................................................................................. 181

Literature Cited........................................................................................................ 182

Appendix A: Spearman Rank-Order Correlation Coefficients and Significance .................... 183

Appendix B: Fishery Performance Indicator Data........................................................... 186

List of Tables

Table 1. U.S. Catch Share Programs as of January 2013 .......................................................2

Table 2. Selected U.S. Non-Catch Share Fisheries Included in Report......................................3

Table 3. Definitions for Tier 1 Performance Indicators of Non-Catch Share Programs.................5

Table 4. Alaska Fishery Performance Measures by Fishery for 2012. .......................................7

Table 5. West Coast Region Fishery Performance Measures by Fishery in 2012....................... 30

Table 6. Pacific Islands Regions Fishery Performance Measures for 2012. .............................. 82

Table 7. Greater Atlantic Region Fishery Performance Measures by Fishery for 2012. ............ 124

Table 8. Southeast Region Fishery Performance Measures for 2012. ................................... 151

Table 9. Summary of Direction of Change and Statistical Significance by Performance Indicator.

................................................................................................................................ 181

List of Figures

Figure 1. Annual catch limit and landings in the Alaska Weathervane Scallop Fishery. ............. 11

Figure 2. Utilization of available annual catch limit in the Alaska Weathervane Scallop Fishery.. 11

Figure 3. Number of active vessels participating in the Alaska Weathervane Scallop Fishery..... 12

Figure 4. Number of days during the open regulatory season that any vessel was operating in the 

Alaska Weathervane Scallop Fishery. ............................................................................... 13

Figure 5. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) in the Alaska Weathervane Scallop Fishery.14

Figure 6. Average prices (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per pound scallop meat in the Alaska 

Weathervane Scallop Fishery. ......................................................................................... 14

Figure 7. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per active vessel in the Alaska Weathervane 

Scallop Fishery. ............................................................................................................ 15

Figure 8. The Gini coefficient for vessels participating in the Alaska Weathervane Scallop Fishery.

.................................................................................................................................. 16

Figure 9. Gulf of Alaska Historical Rockfish Species Groupings. (Groundfish Species Profiles, 

North Pacific Fishery Management Council, 2011) .............................................................. 19

Figure 10. The TAC and landings for the Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish Fishery. ...................... 21

Figure 11. Percent utilization of available TAC in the Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish Fishery. ..... 21

Figure 12. Number of License Limitation Program holders in the Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish 

Fishery........................................................................................................................ 23

Figure 13. Active vessels in the Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish Fishery. .................................. 23

Figure 14. Number of days when fishing was open in the Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish Fishery.24

Figure 15. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) in the Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish Fishery

.................................................................................................................................. 25

Figure 16. Average price (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per metric ton in the Gulf of Alaska 

Other Rockfish Fishery................................................................................................... 26
vi

Figure 17. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per vessel in the Gulf of Alaska Other 

Rockfish Fishery............................................................................................................ 26

Figure 18. The Gini coefficient of those active vessels in the Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish 

Fishery........................................................................................................................ 27

Figure 19. Combined non-tribal commercial Pacific salmon quotas and catch in numbers of fish 

for the West Coast Salmon Troll Fishery ........................................................................... 35

Figure 20. Annual quota utilization rate in the non-tribal commercial West Coast Salmon Troll 

Fishery........................................................................................................................ 36

Figure 21. Total non-tribal commercial landed pounds (gutted weight) of natural and hatchery 

Pacific salmon in the West Coast Salmon Troll Fishery. ....................................................... 36

Figure 22. Number of permits in the non-tribal commercial West Coast Salmon Troll Fishery.... 37

Figure 23. Number of active vessels in the non-tribal commercial West Coast Salmon Troll 

Fishery........................................................................................................................ 38

Figure 24. Number of trips taken in the non-tribal commercial West Coast Salmon Troll Fishery.

.................................................................................................................................. 39

Figure 25. Season length in the non-tribal commercial West Coast Salmon Troll Fishery. ......... 40

Figure 26. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) from Pacific salmon and all other species 

combined in the non-tribal West Coast Salmon Troll Fishery................................................ 41

Figure 27. Average gutted weight price per pound (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) for Pacific 

salmon in the non-tribal West Coast Salmon Troll Fishery. .................................................. 42

Figure 28. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per vessel from Pacific salmon and all other 

species combined in the non-tribal West Coast Salmon Troll Fishery..................................... 43

Figure 29. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per trip from Pacific salmon and all other 

species combined in the non-tribal West Coast Salmon Troll Fishery..................................... 43

Figure 30. The Gini coefficient for vessels participating in the non-tribal commercial West Coast 

Salmon Troll Fishery...................................................................................................... 44

Figure 31. Quota and landings (metric tons) in the West Coast Sardine Fishery...................... 48

Figure 32. Utilization of Harvest Guideline or Quota in the West Coast Sardine Fishery ............ 49

Figure 33. Number of active vessels participating in the West Coast Sardine Fishery............... 50

Figure 34. Number of trips taken by those participating in the West Coast Sardine Fishery. ..... 50

Figure 35. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) in the West Coast Sardine Fishery. ......... 51

Figure 36. Average prices (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) earned in the West Coast Sardine 

Fishery........................................................................................................................ 52

Figure 37. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per vessel participating in the West Coast 

Sardine Fishery............................................................................................................. 53

Figure 38. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per trip in the West Coast Sardine Fishery.

.................................................................................................................................. 53

Figure 39. The Gini Coefficient for vessels earning revenue in the West Coast Sardine Fishery.. 54

Figure 40. Landings in the West Coast Squid Fishery.......................................................... 55

Figure 41. Number of active vessels participating in the West Coast Squid Fishery.................. 56

Figure 42. Number of trips taken by those participating in the West Coast Squid Fishery. ........ 56

Figure 43. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) in the West Coast Squid Fishery............. 57

Figure 44. Average price per metric ton (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) in the West Coast Squid 

Fishery ........................................................................................................................ 58

Figure 45. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per vessel participating in the West Coast 

Squid Fishery. .............................................................................................................. 59

Figure 46. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per trip in the West Coast Squid Fishery.. 60
vii

Figure 47. The Gini Coefficient for those vessels earning revenue in the West Coast Squid 

Fishery........................................................................................................................ 60

Figure 48. Landings (metric tons) in the West Coast Albacore Fishery................................... 66

Figure 49. Number of active vessels participating in the West Coast Albacore Fishery.............. 67

Figure 50. Number of trips taken in the West Coast Albacore Fishery.................................... 68

Figure 51. Total number of days at sea fishing in the West Coast Albacore Fishery. ................ 69

Figure 52. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) in the West Coast Albacore Fishery......... 70

Figure 53. Average price (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per metric ton earned in the West 

Coast Albacore Fishery................................................................................................... 70

Figure 54. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per vessel in the West Coast Albacore

Fishery........................................................................................................................ 71

Figure 55. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per trip in the West Coast Albacore Fishery.

.................................................................................................................................. 72

Figure 56. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per day at sea in the West Coast Albacore 

Fishery........................................................................................................................ 72

Figure 57. The Gini coefficient for active vessels participating in the West Coast Albacore Fishery.

.................................................................................................................................. 73

Figure 58. Landings in the West Coast Swordfish Fishery. ................................................... 74

Figure 59. Number of permits issued in the West Coast Swordfish Fishery............................. 75

Figure 60. Number of active vessels participating in the West Coast Swordfish Fishery............ 75

Figure 61. Number of trips taken in the West Coast Swordfish Fishery. ................................. 76

Figure 62. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) in the West Coast Swordfish Fishery. ...... 77

Figure 63. Average prices (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) in the West Coast Swordfish Fishery.

.................................................................................................................................. 78

Figure 64. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per vessel in the West Coast Swordfish 

Fishery........................................................................................................................ 78

Figure 65. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per trip in the West Coast Swordfish 

Fishery........................................................................................................................ 79

Figure 66. The Gini coefficient for active vessels participating in the West Coast Swordfish 

Fishery........................................................................................................................ 80

Figure 67. Landings of all species in the Hawaiʻi-based Longline Fishery. ............................... 87

Figure 68. Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) and Western Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) bigeye catch 

limits and landings in the Hawaiʻi-based Longline Fishery. Note that there was no catch limit in 

the EPO for 2002, 2003, and 2008 and no catch limit in the WCPO for 2002 – 2008. .............. 88

Figure 69. Utilization of the available bigeye tuna quota by the Hawaiʻi-based Longline Fishery in 

the Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) and Western Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO). Note that there was 

no catch limit in the EPO for 2002, 2003, and 2008 and no catch limit in the WCPO for 2002 –

2008........................................................................................................................... 88

Figure 70. Number of active vessels participating in the Hawaiʻi-based Longline Fishery. ......... 89

Figure 71. Season length for the deep-set tuna fishery and shallow-set swordfish fishery 

components of the Hawaiʻi-based Longline Fishery. ............................................................ 90

Figure 72. Number of trips taken in the Hawaiʻi-based Longline Fishery, including both shallowset and deep-set fisheries. ............................................................................................. 91

Figure 73. Number of days at sea fishing in the Hawaiʻi-based Longline Fishery...................... 91

Figure 74. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) in the Hawaiʻi-based Longline Fishery...... 92

Figure 75. Average price (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per pound for species landed in the 

Hawaiʻi-based Longline Fishery........................................................................................ 93
viii

Figure 76. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per vessel participating in the Hawaiʻi-based 

Longline Fishery............................................................................................................ 94

Figure 77. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per individual trip for the Hawaiʻi-based 

Longline Fishery............................................................................................................ 94

Figure 78. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per day at sea in the Hawaiʻi-based Longline 

Fishery........................................................................................................................ 95

Figure 79. The Gini Coefficient for active vessels in the Hawaiʻi-based Longline Fishery. .......... 96

Figure 80. Quota and landings in the Deep 7 Bottomfish Fishery. Note that the fishery operated 

under a calendar year for 2002 – 2006 and a fishing year for 2007 – 2012.......................... 101

Figure 81. Utilization of the available quota in the Deep 7 Bottomfish Fishery. Note that the 

fishery operated under a calendar year for 2002 – 2006 and a fishing year for 2007 – 2012. . 102

Figure 82. Number of permits in the Deep 7 Bottomfish Fishery. Note that the fishery operated 

under a calendar year for 2002 – 2006 and a fishing year for 2007 – 2012.......................... 103

Figure 83. Number of active vessels participating in the Deep 7 Bottomfish Fishery. Note that the 

fishery operated under a calendar year for 2002 – 2006 and a fishing year for 2007 – 2012. . 104

Figure 84. Number of days that fishing is allowed in the Deep 7 Bottomfish Fishery. Note that the 

fishery operated under a calendar year for 2002 – 2006 and a fishing year for 2007 – 2012. . 104

Figure 85. Number of trips taken in the Deep 7 Bottomfish Fishery. Note that the fishery 

operated under a calendar year for 2002 – 2006 and a fishing year for 2007 – 2012. ........... 105

Figure 86. Number of days at sea spent fishing in the Deep 7 Bottomfish Fishery. Note that the 

fishery operated under a calendar year for 2002 – 2006 and a fishing year for 2007 – 2012. . 105

Figure 87. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) from Deep 7 Bottomfish landings and nonDeep 7 Bottomfish landings. Note that the fishery operated under a calendar year for 2002 –

2006 and a fishing year for 2007 – 2012. ....................................................................... 106

Figure 88. Average prices (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) paid for species caught in the Deep 7 

Bottomfish Fishery. Note that the fishery operated under a calendar year for 2002 – 2006 and a 

fishing year for 2007 – 2012......................................................................................... 107

Figure 89. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per vessel for Deep 7 Bottomfish species 

and non-Deep 7 Bottomfish species. Note that the fishery operated under a calendar year for 

2002 – 2006 and a fishing year for 2007 – 2012. ............................................................ 108

Figure 90. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per trip for Deep 7 Bottomfish species and 

non-Deep 7 Bottomfish species. Note that the fishery operated under a calendar year for 2002 –

2006 and a fishing year for 2007 – 2012. ....................................................................... 109

Figure 91. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per day at sea spent fishing for Deep 7 

Bottomfish species and non-Deep 7 Bottomfish species. Note that the fishery operated under a 

calendar year for 2002 – 2006 and a fishing year for 2007 – 2012. .................................... 110

Figure 92. The Gini coefficient for Commercial Marine License holders in the Deep 7 Bottomfish 

Fishery...................................................................................................................... 111

Figure 93. Landings of all species in the American Samoa Longline Fishery.......................... 114

Figure 94. Number of permits issued in the American Samoa Longline Fishery. .................... 116

Figure 95. Number of active vessels in the American Samoa Longline Fishery. ..................... 116

Figure 96. Number of trips taken in the American Samoa Longline Fishery. ......................... 117

Figure 97. Number of days at sea spent fishing in the American Samoa Longline Fishery....... 117

Figure 98. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) in the American Samoa Longline Fishery.

................................................................................................................................ 118

Figure 99. Average prices (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) paid for species caught in the 

American Samoa Longline Fishery. ................................................................................ 119
ix

Figure 100. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per vessel in the American Samoa Longline 

Fishery...................................................................................................................... 119

Figure 101. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per trip in the American Samoa Longline 

Fishery...................................................................................................................... 120

Figure 102. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per day at sea fishing in the American 

Samoa Longline Fishery. .............................................................................................. 121

Figure 103. The Gini coefficient for active vessels in the American Samoa Longline Fishery.... 122

Figure 104. Quota and landings in the Monkfish Fishery.................................................... 128

Figure 105. Utilization of the available Monkfish quota...................................................... 129

Figure 106. Number of limited access permits in the Monkfish Fishery. ............................... 130

Figure 107. Number of active vessels participating in the Monkfish Fishery.......................... 131

Figure 108. Number of trips taken to fish for Monkfish...................................................... 132

Figure 109. Number of days absent spent fishing on trips that landed Monkfish.................... 132

Figure 110. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) from monkfish and non-monkfish landings.

................................................................................................................................ 133

Figure 111. Average live weight prices (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) for monkfish. .......... 134

Figure 112. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per active vessel participating in the 

Monkfish Fishery......................................................................................................... 135

Figure 113. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per trip in the Monkfish Fishery. ......... 135

Figure 114. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per day at sea fishing for monkfish..... 136

Figure 115. The Gini coefficient for active vessels participating in the Monkfish Fishery. ........ 137

Figure 116. Quota and landings in the Limited Access Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery................ 141

Figure 117. Utilization of the available Limited Access Atlantic Sea Scallop quota. ................ 141

Figure 118. Number of permits issued in the Limited Access Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery....... 143

Figure 119. Number of active vessels participating in the Limited Access Atlantic Sea Scallop 

Fishery...................................................................................................................... 143

Figure 120. Number of trips taken in the Limited Access Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery. ........... 144

Figure 121. Number of days at sea fishing in the Limited Access Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery. 144

Figure 122. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) in the Limited Access Atlantic Sea Scallop 

Fishery...................................................................................................................... 146

Figure 123. Average prices (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) for Limited Access Atlantic Sea 

Scallops..................................................................................................................... 146

Figure 124. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per vessel in the Limited Access Atlantic 

Sea Scallop Fishery. .................................................................................................... 147

Figure 125. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per trip in the Limited Access Atlantic Sea 

Scallop Fishery. .......................................................................................................... 147

Figure 126. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per day at sea in the Limited Access 

Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery.......................................................................................... 148

Figure 127. The Gini coefficient for active vessels in the Limited Access Atlantic Sea Scallop 

Fishery...................................................................................................................... 149

Figure 128. Landings and quota of vermilion snapper in the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Fishery. 

Prior to 2012, there was no specific quota for the commercial sector, the ACL was set for the 

commercial and recreational sectors combined................................................................ 155

Figure 129. Count of Federal Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish permits, 2002-2011. ......................... 156

Figure 130. Number of active vessels landing vermilion snapper in the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish 

Fishery...................................................................................................................... 156

Figure 131. Number of trips taken where vermilion snapper were landed in the Gulf of Mexico 

Reef Fish Fishery. ....................................................................................................... 157
x

Figure 132. Number of days at sea where vermilion snapper were landed in the Gulf of Mexico 

Reef Fish Fishery. ....................................................................................................... 158

Figure 133. Commercial season length for vermilion snapper, 2002 – 2012. ........................ 158

Figure 134. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) earned from vermilion snapper (Fishery 

Revenue) and other species (Non Fishery Revenue). ........................................................ 159

Figure 135. Average price per pound (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) for vermilion snapper. 160

Figure 136. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per vessel fishing for vermilion snapper.

................................................................................................................................ 161

Figure 137. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per trip fishing for vermilion snapper. . 161

Figure 138. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per day at sea fishing for vermilion 

snapper..................................................................................................................... 162

Figure 139. The Gini coefficient for active vessels fishing for vermilion snapper.................... 163

Figure 140. Correlation Coefficients between aggregate fishery species quota and time......... 165

Figure 141. Annual number of fisheries managed with a catch limit, number of fisheries in which 

one or more catch limits was exceeded, and number of fisheries in which no catch limit was 

exceeded................................................................................................................... 166

Figure 142. Correlation coefficients between aggregate fishery species landing and time. ...... 167

Figure 143. Correlation coefficients between fishery species revenue and time..................... 168

Figure 144. Correlation coefficients between average fishery species price and time. ............ 169

Figure 145. Correlation coefficients between aggregate fishery species landings and average 

price. ........................................................................................................................ 169

Figure 146. Correlation coefficients between active vessels and time. ................................. 170

Figure 147. Correlation coefficients between fishery species revenue per vessel and time. ..... 171

Figure 148. Correlation coefficients between for the Gini coefficient and time....................... 171

Figure 149. Correlation coefficients between number of trips in the fishery and time............. 172

Figure 150. Cross-correlation coefficients between active vessels and trips.......................... 173

Figure 151. Correlation coefficients between for number of days at sea in the fishery and time.

................................................................................................................................ 174

Figure 152. Correlation coefficients for average trip duration and time................................ 174

Figure 153. Correlation coefficients between fishery revenue per trip and time..................... 175

Figure 154. Correlation coefficients between fishery species revenue per day at sea and time. 176

Figure 155. Correlation coefficients between total revenue and time................................... 177

Figure 156. Correlation coefficients between fishery species revenue share and time. ........... 178

Figure 157. Correlation coefficients between total revenue per vessel and time.................... 179

Figure 158. Correlation coefficients between total revenue per trip and time........................ 179

Figure 159. Correlation coefficients between total revenue per day and time. ...................... 180
xi

The Economic Performance of Non-Catch Share Programs

Executive Summary

Nationwide, some fisheries are managed using catch share management; while others are 

managed using a broad range of management controls exclusive of catch shares. Catch share 

programs are a fishery management tool that dedicates a secure share of quota to allowing 

individual fishermen, fishing cooperatives, fishing communities, or other entities to harvest a 

specific amount of fish. This report provides data on the economic performance of selected 

fisheries not managed using catch share management As such, this report is an extension and 

companion to NOAA Fisheries’ report on the economic performance of catch share programs 

(Brinson and Thunberg, 2013).

This report provides data on the selected 

non-catch share fisheries listed in Box 1. 

Although these fisheries are only a partial list 

of all such fisheries managed by Fishery 

Management Councils, they are fisheries that 

are of social and/or economic significance in 

each region and are distinct fisheries 

managed under a single Fishery Management 

Plan. In this report, a snapshot of the 

economic performance of these fisheries is 

provided including trends over time. 

Indicators for most programs span the years 

from 2002 to 2012. Indicators for Alaskan 

fisheries managed by the North Pacific 

Fishery Management Council are reported 

from 2003 to 2012.

The fisheries reported here have adopted a 

wide array of management measures 

including, among other things, effort controls 

on days at sea, trip limits, gear restrictions, 

temporal and spatial controls. All but three 

fisheries (West Coast Albacore, West Coast Squid, and Hawaiʻi Bottomfish) are limited access 

fisheries. As of 2012, all but four fisheries had specified Annual Catch Limits or were quotamanaged. Of the four fisheries that currently do not have Annual Catch Limits, three are fisheries 

for highly migratory species subject to international agreements, namely the West Coast 

Swordfish, West Coast Albacore, and American Samoa Longline Fisheries. 

Methods

The selected indicators used to evaluate economic performance include metrics for quota and 

landings, effort (number of active vessels, trips, and fishing days), economic measures such as 

Box 1. Selected U.S. Non-Catch Share 

Managed Fisheries By NOAA Fisheries Region

Greater Atlantic Region

Limited Access Atlantic Sea Scallops 

Monkfish

South Atlantic Region

Gulf of Mexico Vermillion Snapper

West Coast Region

West Coast Salmon Troll

West Coast Sardines

West Coast Squid

West Coast Albacore

West Coast Swordfish

Alaska Region

Weathervane Scallops

Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish

Pacific Islands Region

Hawaiʻi Longline

Hawaiʻi Bottomfish

American Samoa Longline
xii

revenues from species in the fishery, total revenue, average prices for landed catch, revenue per 

vessel, revenue per trip, revenue per day, and the Gini coefficient, which is a measure of the 

distribution of fishery revenues among active vessels.

Results

Each fishery described in this report has different management objectives, different regulatory 

frameworks, and markedly different operational characteristics. These differences complicate any 

direct comparisons of performance trends across fisheries except in terms of assessing trends in 

economic performance over time. For this reason, the Spearman rank-order correlation

coefficients (for individual performance indicators and time) were estimated to determine 

whether any dominant upward (positive correlation coefficient) or downward (negative 

correlation coefficient) time trends were evident, and whether these trends were shared across 

fisheries. In doing so, it is important to keep in mind that correlation coefficients may not detect 

shorter term or cyclical trends. That is, correlations with time will be statistically significant only 

if the time trend is consistently up or down. This does not necessarily mean that inter-annual 

changes are strictly unidirectional, only that annual changes fluctuate around a distinct longerterm trend. Correlation coefficients do not indicate causality or any underlying structural reasons 

for change, nor do they reveal more complex relationships that may exist among multiple 

performance indicators.

Landings and Quota

There was no discernible long-term trend in aggregate landings of fishery species for seven of 

the 13 fisheries included in this report. Of the six fisheries where a long-term trend was evident,

landings increased in two fisheries (West Coast Squid and Hawaiʻi Longline) and decreased in 

four (West Coast Swordfish, West Coast Salmon Troll, Monkfish, and Gulf of Alaska Other 

Rockfish). 

Evaluating trends in aggregate quota of all species in the fishery, whether specified as a target, 

harvest guideline, or Annual Catch Limit, was complicated by the fact that these management 

instruments have been implemented at different times across fisheries. In eight fisheries, some 

type of quota was specified during at least the most recent six years. Of these, positive trends 

were detected in the Atlantic Limited Access Sea Scallop, Hawaiʻi Longline, and Hawaiʻi

Bottomfish Fisheries. Downward trends were detected in the Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish, 

Monkfish, West Coast Salmon Troll, West Coast Sardine, and Weathervane Scallop Fisheries.

Assessing whether catch targets have been exceeded was complicated by the fact that quotas for 

several fisheries have limits that apply to multiple management units in the fishery. A catch limit 

or quota for one species or sub-component of a fishery may be exceeded while the aggregate 

quota is not. Fisheries with multiple management units include the Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish, 

Hawaiʻi Longline, West Coast Salmon Troll, Monkfish, and Weathervane Scallops Fisheries. In 

2009-2012, overages occurred in 20-80% of the fisheries that were managed with some form of 

catch limit. 
xiii

Active Vessels, Trips, and Days Absent

One component of fishery performance is the number of active participants. To examine 

participation over time, the number of active vessels was evaluated throughout the study period. 

A statistically significant trend in the number of active vessels in the fishery was detected in 

seven of the 13 fisheries included in the report, six of which exhibited a downward trend. An 

upward trend in active vessels was detected in only the Hawaiʻi Longline fishery.

Of the 11 fisheries where data were available, a statistically significant correlation between the 

number of trips and time was not detected for four fisheries (Squid, West Coast Albacore, Hawai’i 

Longline, and Hawaiʻi Bottomfish). For the remaining seven fisheries, the number of trips 

exhibited a statistically significant downward trend in the fishery.

For the eight fisheries where days absent data were available, a statistically significant positive 

trend was detected in two fisheries (West Coast Albacore and Hawaiʻi Longline); whereas, a 

statistically significant negative time trend was evident for American Samoa Longline, Limited 

Access Atlantic Sea Scallops, and Monkfish fisheries. 

Revenues, Prices, Revenue per Vessel, Revenue per Trip, and Revenue per Day

A statistically significant correlation between fishery species revenue and time was detected in 

nine of the 13 fisheries included in this report. The majority, five of these nine fisheries, 

exhibited an increasing trend in fishery revenue, while in four (American Samoa Longline, 

Monkfish, West Coast Salmon Troll, and West Coast Swordfish) fisheries a downward trend was 

evident. A statistically significant positive correlation between average fishery species price per 

unit (pound or metric ton) and time was detected in nine fisheries.

A statistically significant correlation between fishery species revenue per vessel and time was 

detected for 10 of the 13 fisheries included in this report. In all but three of these 10 fisheries 

(West Coast Swordfish, West Coast Salmon Troll, and Monkfish), an upward trend in fishery 

revenue per vessel was evident. In general, the time trend for both fishery species revenue per 

trip and fishery revenue per day at sea were also positive for most fisheries.

Distribution of Fishery Revenue

The relative distribution of fishery revenues among active vessels was measured by the Gini 

coefficient. The Gini coefficient is based on the difference between the actual cumulative 

distribution of share of species revenue among active vessels and the cumulative distribution of 

revenue shares that would result if revenue among all active vessels was the same. As such, the 

Gini coefficient is a measure of the degree of concentration in the distribution of fishery species 

revenue among participating vessels. A low Gini coefficient indicates that revenues are relatively 

evenly distributed among active vessels, whereas a high Gini coefficient indicates that revenues 

are more concentrated among fewer vessels. There was no statistically significant correlation 

between the Gini coefficient and time in six of the 13 fisheries included in this report. Of the 

seven fisheries where a statistically significant trend was evident, the trend was negative 

(indicating a reduction in concentration in fishery revenues) in five fisheries, whereas the Gini 

coefficient was increasing in both the Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish and the West Coast Swordfish 

fisheries.
xiv

Overall, the results of the correlations with the performance indicators and time revealed 

significant trends in some fisheries. Fishery revenue, average price, revenue per trip, and 

revenue per vessel tended to have significant correlations in at least 70% of the fisheries. 

Evidence of shared correlations with time for both relative distribution of fishery revenue shares 

as measured by the Gini coefficient and aggregate fishery landings were less definitive (less than 

54% of fisheries). There were significant negative correlations for time and the number of trips 

for the seven fisheries where data were available. 
1

Introduction

In the United States, some fisheries are managed under catch share programs, which is a fishery 

management tool that dedicates a secure share of quota allowing individual fishermen, fishing 

cooperatives, fishing communities, or other entities to harvest a specific amount of fish (Brinson 

and Thunberg, 2013). As of January 2015, there were 15 catch share programs in the United 

States (Table 1). This report provides data on indicators of fishery performance for 13 selected 

fisheries not managed on the basis of catch shares (Table 2), including trends over time. As 

such, the report is an extension and companion to NOAA Fisheries’ report on economic 

performance of catch share programs (Brinson and Thunberg, 2013). 

The indicators of performance developed by NOAA Fisheries economists, anthropologists, policy 

analysts, and resource managers for catch share programs were adapted to non-catch share 

fisheries and reported in this report. Many of these indicators such as quota1and landings, effort, 

and revenue are relevant indicators of fishery performance regardless of management approach. 

Fisheries included in this report were selected based on their social and/or economic significance

in each region, and because they are distinct fisheries managed under a single Fishery 

Management Plan. 

The report first describes the process used to identify and develop the performance indicators, 

then details, the definition and measurement method for each indicator. Next, the performance 

indicators for each non-catch share fishery are reported, and trends through time are identified 

and discussed. Finally, non-catch share fishery performance is compared across programs for 

selected economic indicators.

Fishery Performance Indicators

The NOAA Fisheries Office of Science and Technology initiated the development of a national set 

of performance indicators for catch share fisheries by convening a series of workshops from 2009 

to 2012 with NOAA Fisheries’ regional economists, anthropologists, policy analysts and resource 

managers. Regional experts identified a large number of potential indicators, many of which 

were noted as being appropriate for both catch share and non-catch share fisheries. These 

indicators were subsequently classified as being Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 3 metrics based on data 

availability and relative ease in quantifying each indicator. Tier 1 indicators were defined as 

metrics for which data were readily available, could be routinely produced and updated, and 

could be provided for all catch share programs. Tier 2 indicators were defined as metrics that 

could be produced using available data, but which required additional research before they could

be routinely produced. Tier 3 indicators were determined to be measures that would require 

large investments in research or new data collection programs. As methods improve and new 

data become available, performance indicators in Tier 2 and Tier 3 will be moved up to Tier 1.

Adaptation of these metrics to non-catch share fisheries was undertaken during 2012. In 

November 2012, each region was requested to supply the data defined by the final set of Tier 1 

performance indicators for non-catch share programs; these data form the basis for this report.

 

1

In each of the regional sections, we use the term appropriate for that region; however, for purposes 

of simplicity, the term quota is used as a generic term to include guideline harvest limit, quota, or 

catch limit.
2

Table 1. U.S. Catch Share Programs as of January 2013

Catch Share Program Year 

Implemented

Greater Atlantic Region

Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog ITQ 1990

Mid-Atlantic Golden Tilefish IFQa2009

Northeast Multispecies Sectors 2010

Northeast General Category Atlantic Sea Scallop IFQ 2010

Southeast Region

South Atlantic Wreckfish ITQb1992

Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper IFQ 2007

Gulf of Mexico Grouper-Tilefish IFQ 2010

West Coast Region

Pacific Coast Sablefish Permit Stacking 2001

Pacific Groundfish Trawl Rationalization 2011

Alaska Region

Western Alaska Community Development Quotab1992

Alaska Halibut and Sablefish IFQ 1995

American Fisheries Act (AFA) Pollock Cooperatives 1999

Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) Crab Rationalization Program 2005

Non-Pollock Trawl Catcher/Processor Groundfish Cooperatives (Amendment 80) 2008

Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Pacific Cod Hook and Line Cooperativec2010

Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Cooperatives 2012

ITQ/IFQ denotes Individual Transferable/Fishing Quota

a

Implemented in November, 2009 at the start of the 2010 fishing year.

b

Program not included in Catch Share Program report.

cVessels began fishing cooperatively on August 15, 2010.

Tier 1 performance indicators include metrics for landings, fishing effort, and revenue (Table 3).

Landings indicators include the quota allocated to the program or Annual Catch Limit (ACL), 

landings, whether the quota allocated to the program has been exceeded, and the percentage of 

the available quota that has been utilized. These indicators are measured in units (e.g., live or 

whole weight, gutted weight, bushels, meat weight, or product weight) commensurate with the 

non-catch share fishery monitoring program. For non-catch share programs that include more 

than one species or stock, reported quota, landings, and percent utilization are based on the 

combined quantities for all species in the fishery. However, whether any quota may have been 

exceeded is determined on a species-by-species basis. 
3

Table 2. Selected U.S. Non-Catch Share Fisheries Included in Report

Fishery Fishery Management Plan (FMP) Reported 

Years

Alaska 

Weathervane Scallops Scallop Fishery off Alaska FMP 2003-2012

Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish Gulf of Alaska Groundfish FMP 2003-2012

Pacific Coast

West Coast Salmon Troll Pacific Coast Salmon Fishery FMP 2002–2012

West Coast Sardine Coastal Pelagics FMP 2002-2012

West Coast Squid Coastal Pelagics FMP 2002-2012

West Coast Albacore Highly Migratory Species FMP 2002-2012

West Coast Swordfish Highly Migratory Species FMP 2002-2012

Pacific Islands

Hawaiʻi Longline Pacific Pelagic FEPa

2002-2012

Hawaiʻi Bottomfish Hawaiian Archipelago FEPa

2002-2012

American Samoa Longline Pacific Pelagic FEPa2002-2011

Greater Atlantic

Monkfish Monkfish FMP 2002-2012

Limited Access Atlantic Sea Scallops

b Atlantic Sea Scallop FMP 2007-2012

Southeast

Vermilion Snapper Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish FMP 2002-2012

a

FEP denotes Fishery Ecosystem Plan

bRefers to the limited access days-at-sea scallop fishery

Effort indicators include number of permits issued, number of active vessels, season length, 

number of trips, and days absent (Table 3). Since permits may be issued or reissued throughout 

the year, the number of permits was taken as the number issued at the start of the fishing year

as defined for each fishery. An active vessel is defined as any vessel that lands one or more 

pounds of any of the species included in the non-catch share fishery on a fishing trip. Summing 

all such trips for the year provides the annual number of trips where non-catch share species are 

landed. This approach was taken to minimize double counting. Similarly, total annual days at sea 

are the sum of the duration of all fishing trips taken where non-catch share fishery species were 

landed. Season length is defined as the number of days in a year that a non-catch share fishery 

remains open. This may be 365 days in cases where the established annual quota or ACL has not 

been exceeded.

Revenue indicators included total annual revenues from all species in the fishery, as well as 

aggregate revenues from all species jointly caught with the non-catch share species. Several 

fishing revenue indicators were calculated using estimates of landings or effort. These derived 

indicators, which are based on combined non-catch share fishery species, include the average 

price for non-catch share species, revenue per vessel, revenue per trip, and revenue per day. 

Other indicators include whether or not the fishery is under limited entry management and 

revenue distribution across vessels, measured by the Gini coefficient. The Gini coefficient is a 

measure of the degree of inequality in the distribution of non-catch share revenue among active 
4

vessels. Mathematically, the Gini coefficient is based on the difference between the Lorenz curve,

which is the cumulative distribution of revenue shares among active vessels and the cumulative 

distribution of revenue shares that would result if revenues among all active vessels were the 

same. A low Gini coefficient indicates that revenues are relatively evenly distributed among 

active vessels, whereas a high Gini coefficient indicates that revenues are more concentrated 

among fewer vessels.
5

Table 3. Definitions for Tier 1 Performance Indicators of Non-Catch Share Programs

Indicator Definition

Landings

Non-Catch Share Quota Annual quota of combined non-catch share program species, in terms of weight.

Aggregate landings Annual total weight of all species in the fishery landed on trips attributed to the fishery.

Annual Catch Limit (ACL) exceeded Was the ACL exceeded for any species/stock within the non-catch share fishery? (Y/N)

Utilization (%) Portion of target species quota that is caught and retained within a fishing year. 

Landings/Quota attributed to the non-catch share fishery.

Fishing Effort

Number of permits Number of uniquely permitted vessels for the fishery at a given point in a year.

Limited entry Is the non-catch share fishery under a limited entry program? (Y/N)

Limited entry components List the components of the fishery that are under a limited entry program.

Active vessels Number of vessels with landings from trips attributed to the fishery in a given year.

Season length Number of days the fishery is open in a given year.

Trips Number of trips attributed to the fishery in a given year.

Days at sea Number of days absent on trips attributed to the fishery in a given year.

Landings Revenue

Fishery species revenue Aggregate ex-vessel revenue from species in the fishery landed on trips attributed to the 

fishery in a given year. 

Other species revenue Aggregate ex-vessel revenue from species not in the fishery landed on trips attributed to the 

fishery in a given year.

Average price Aggregate revenue from species in the fishery landed on trips attributed to the fishery, 

divided by aggregate landings

Fishery species revenue per active vessel Fishery species revenue divided by the number of active vessels

Other species revenue per active vessel Other species revenue divided by the number of active vessels

Fishery species revenue per trip Fishery species revenue divided by the number of trips

Other species revenue per trip Other species revenue divided by the number of trips

Revenue per day at sea Fishery species revenue divided by the number of days at sea

Other species revenue per active day at sea Other species revenue divided by the number of days at sea

Other

Gini coefficient The Gini coefficient is a measure of distribution of revenue among active vessels in a fishery.

The coefficient ranges between 0 and 1, where 0 indicates all vessels have the same revenue 

while 1 indicates that all revenue is earned by a single vessel. The Gini coefficient is 

calculated as (∑(2*i-n-1)xi)/n2u where ∑ denotes the sum from i = 1 to n vessels; i is the 

vessel’s rank in ascending order; x is annual revenue of species in the fishery for vessel i; n is 

the total number of vessels; and u is mean revenue.
6

Alaska Region

The Alaska Region includes the fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the North 

Pacific off the state of Alaska. The region spans nearly three million square miles and comprises

waters in the Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Arctic Ocean. The area contains 

four Large Marine Ecosystems which support some of the most commercially important fisheries 

in the world. Federal fisheries in the region are managed by NOAA Fisheries and the North Pacific 

Fishery Management Council under six Fishery Management Plans. Seven catch share programs

operate in the Alaska Region. Due to the international range of Pacific halibut and Pacific salmon 

stocks, two Regional Fishery Management Organizations are also involved in the management of 

these stocks. The International Pacific Halibut Commission conducts biological assessments of 

halibut and establishes catch limits. The Pacific Salmon Commission establishes catch limits for 

the salmon stocks covered under the Pacific Salmon Treaty. The North Pacific Fishery 

Management Council has delegated salmon management to the State of Alaska through the 

Salmon Fishery Management Plan. Commercially important species from Alaska include five 

species of salmon, five species of crab, walleye pollock, Pacific halibut, Pacific cod, sablefish, 

herring, weathervane scallops, four species of shrimp, several species of flatfish and rockfish, 

lingcod, geoducks, sea cucumbers, and sea urchins.

The Alaska Region also includes the Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) 

Program, which is unique to Alaska. This Program was originally implemented in 1992 as part of 

a restructuring of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands groundfish fishery. Under the CDQ

Program, a percentage of the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for groundfish, prohibited species, 

halibut, and crab is apportioned to coastal western Alaska native communities. The purpose of 

the CDQ Program is to provide western Alaska communities the opportunity to participate and 

invest in Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands fisheries, to support local economic development, to 

alleviate poverty and provide economic and social benefits for residents, and to achieve 

sustainable and diversified local economies.

A snapshot of the performance indicators for two fisheries (Weathervane Scallops and Gulf of 

Alaska Other Rockfish) for the 2012 fishing year appear in Table 4. More detailed data for each of 

these fisheries is reported in the sections to follow. In addition, a synopsis of each fishery is 

provided including gears used, target and component species, products sold, current 

management approach, and key changes affecting the fishery. 
7

Table 4. Alaska Fishery Performance Measures by Fishery for 2012.

Catch and Landings Weathervane Scallops Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish

Catch limita 417,500 lb 14,628 mt

Aggregate landingsa 417,551 lb 7,999 mt

Utilization 100% 55%

Catch limit/TAC exceeded Y N

Effort

Number of permits (number) 9 1,640

Active vessels (number) 4 729

Trips (number)ab N/A N/A

Days at sea (days)ab N/A N/A

Season length (days) 176c 32

Revenue ($)c

Fishery species revenue $4,181,649 $4,593,651

Other species revenue N/A N/A

Total revenue $4,181,649 $4,593,651

Average fishery species pricea $10.01 $574.28

Fishery species revenue per 

vessel $1,045,412 $6,301

Other species revenue per 

vessel N/A N/A

Total revenue per vessel $1,045,412 $6,301

Other

Limited entry Y Y

Gini coefficient 0.21d 0.90

a Weight is given in pounds of shucked meat for scallops and in metric tons for rockfish.

b Number of trips, days at sea, and related revenue metrics are not available because the Alaska 

Region does not manage fisheries by trips or days at sea.

c Revenue and price data have been adjusted by the Gross Domestic Product deflator, indexed for 

2010.

d Data for 2012/2013 are not yet available for this metric; this is the 2011/2012 value.

N/A = not applicable or not available

TAC = Total Allowable Catch
8

A. Weathervane Scallops

Commercial scallop fishing began in Alaska during 1967 when two vessels harvested 

weathervane scallops from fishing grounds east of Kodiak Island. The scallop fishery was 

managed without a defined Fishery Management Plan until early 1993. Management measures 

prior to 1993 included seasonal area closures to protect crabs and crab habitat. Fishermen would 

switch to new fishing grounds as scallop catches declined in one bed. Participation fluctuated in 

the Alaska Weathervane Scallop Fishery until the early 1990’s when the fishery expanded rapidly 

due to an influx of boats from the U.S. East Coast. Concerns about the overharvest of scallops 

and bycatch of crabs prompted the State of Alaska and the North Pacific Fishery Management 

Council to implement a management plan, summarized below. The scallop fishery is currently 

prosecuted from Southeast Alaska out to the Aleutian Islands and the Eastern Bering Sea, an 

area totaling approximately 200 nautical square miles over the entire state. 

1. Fishery synopsis

a. Gear used 

Vessels harvesting scallops use metal dredges consisting of a frame and bag that contact the 

ocean floor. State regulations limit all vessels fishing inside the Cook Inlet Registration Area to 

the use of a single dredge not more than six feet wide. Unless restricted by Federal License 

Limitation Program permit endorsements, vessels fishing outside the Cook Inlet Registration Area 

and elsewhere in state and federal waters are allowed two dredges, each not more than 15 feet 

wide. An average 15-foot dredge weighs about 2,600 pounds, while a six-foot dredge weighs 

about 900 pounds. Vessel lengths in this fishery range from 58 - 124 feet in total length.

b. Target/component species 

Although the Fishery Management Plan covers all scallop stocks off the coast of Alaska, including 

weathervane, pink or reddish, spiny, and rock scallops, the weathervane scallop is the only 

commercially exploited stock at this time. Weathervane scallops are distributed from Point 

Reyes, California to the Pribilof Islands, Alaska. The highest known densities in Alaska have been 

found along the eastern Gulf of Alaska coast from Cape Spencer to Cape St. Elias, off Kodiak 

Island, and in the Bering Sea. Weathervane scallops are found from intertidal waters to depths of 

300 meters, but abundance tends to be greatest between depths of 40 and 130 meters on beds 

of mud, clay, sand, and gravel. Adult scallops are filter feeders, feeding on plankton and other 

organic materials. Growth occurs rapidly during the first few years of life and is minimal after age 

10. In general, weathervane scallops are long lived, and individuals with shell heights of 250 

millimeters and an average age of 28 years have been reported.

c. Market channels

Weathervane scallops caught in Alaskan waters are shucked, graded by size, and frozen on 

board. They are sold primarily to domestic seafood markets, with a smaller amount going to 

foreign markets. Three vessels participating in the fishery have formed a marketing group in 

order to promote the size, flavor, freshness, and sustainability of weathervane scallops to 

potential online customers.
9

2. Management Program

a. Current management controls

NOAA Fisheries and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council manage weathervane scallops 

under the Fishery Management Plan for the Scallop Fishery off Alaska. The Fishery Management 

Plan delegates management authority in Federal waters to the State of Alaska, except for the 

development and implementation of limited access management measures. The North Pacific 

Fishery Management Council developed a scallop License Limitation Program to limit access in 

the scallop fishery to nine vessels. This Program was implemented by NOAA Fisheries in 2001. 

Under the Fishery Management Plan for the Scallop Fishery off Alaska, the State of Alaska

establishes management measures including harvest level regulations in different scallop 

registration areas, season length, area closures, the observer program, bycatch limits, gear 

restrictions, and measures to limit processing efficiency. The regulatory fishing season for 

weathervane scallops in Alaska is July 1 - February 15, except in the Cook Inlet Registration 

Area. In the Kamishak District of Cook Inlet, the season is August 15 - October 31, while all 

other areas in the Cook Inlet are open year-round for exploratory fishing. While the state vessel 

permit system for state waters expired at the end of 2013, the Alaska Board of Fisheries has

adopted the State-Waters Weathervane Scallop Management Plan (5 AAC 38.078) which became 

effective on April 1, 2014, prior to the start of the scallop fishing season. Throughout the season, 

onboard observers monitor the fishery and transmit data to the Alaska Department of Fish and 

Game. These observers are required on all vessels fishing for scallops in Alaska outside of Cook 

Inlet. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game may close fishing in any area before the 

guideline harvest level is reached due to concerns about localized depletion, trends in catch per 

unit effort, or bycatch rates. In-season data collected by observers are also used by the scallop 

industry to avoid areas of high bycatch.

b. Key changes from past management controls

In May 2000, six of the nine License Limitation Program permit owners formed the North Pacific 

Scallop Cooperative under the authority of the Fishermen's Collective Marketing Act 1934 (15 

U.S.C. 521). The Cooperative is self-regulated, and is neither endorsed nor managed by the 

Alaska Department of Fish and Game or NOAA Fisheries. The Cooperative regulates individual 

vessel allocations within the Guideline Harvest Level as well as crab bycatch caps under the 

terms of a cooperative contract. The Cooperative does not receive an exclusive allocation of the 

scallop harvest. Some owners opted to remove their boats from the fishery and arranged for 

their shares to be caught by other members of the Cooperative. Since the formation of the 

Cooperative, harvest rates have slowed and fishing effort now occurs over a longer period of 

time during each fishing season. Vessels owners who have opted not to join the Cooperative are 

not bound by any contract provisions. 

3. Management Objectives

In addition to the National Standards established under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the 

objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for the Scallop Fishery off Alaska are to prevent 

localized overfishing of scallop stocks and protect the long-term productivity of the resource to 

allow for the achievement of optimum yield on a continuing basis. Seven specific objectives have 
10

been laid out within this larger goal. These objectives relate to biological, economic, and social 

concerns and include the following:

1) Ensure the long-term reproductive viability of scallop populations.

2) Maximize economic and social benefits to the nation over time.

3) Minimize gear conflict among fisheries.

4) Protect, conserve, and enhance adequate quantities of essential fish habitat to support 

scallop populations and maintain a healthy ecosystem.

5) Provide public access to the regulatory process for vessel safety considerations.

6) Ensure that access to the regulatory process and opportunities for redress are available 

to all interested parties.

7) Provide fisheries research, data collection, and analysis to ensure a sound information 

base for management decisions.

4. Recent Trends

a. Landings

Data for the Alaska Weathervane Scallop Fishery are reported by fishing year (e.g., 2003 refers 

to the 2003/2004 fishing year). The Guideline Harvest Level for the Alaska Weathervane Scallop 

Fishery averaged 575,000 pounds of scallop meat (shucked) from 2003/2004 – 2012/2013

(Figure 1). In this time period, utilization of the available quota has been 63% – 1000% (Figure 

2). Landings in this time period have averaged 560,000 pounds of scallop meat.

The statewide Federal ACL for the entire fishery was only exceeded in 2012/2013, however, 

some area-specific Guideline Harvest Levels were exceeded from 2003 – 2012. In the aggregate, 

these overages were not large, ranging from a low of 35 pounds (2009/2010) to a high of 3,472 

pounds (2012/2013; 0.35% of the Federal ACL).
11

Figure 1. Annual catch limit and landings in the Alaska Weathervane Scallop Fishery.

Figure 2. Utilization of available annual catch limit in the Alaska Weathervane Scallop Fishery.

640 

670 

602 

540 540 533 549 527 

496 

418 

492 

425 

525 487 458 

342 

488 460 456 418 

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Weight of scallop meat (thousands of pounds)

Year

Guideline Harvest Limit

Landings

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

110%

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Utilization of quota (%)

Year
12

b. Effort 

Participation in the Alaska Weathervane Scallop Fishery is limited to nine vessels by the License 

Limitation Program. In the fishing seasons from 2003/2004 and 2008/2009, there were four or 

five active vessels except in 2009/2010 and 2010/2011, when only three vessels actively 

participated in the fishery (Figure 3). 

Season length is the number of days during the open regulatory season when any vessel was 

operating in the fishery. During the 2003/2004 to 2007/2008 fishing years, the scallop season 

typically lasted approximately 200 days, except for 2006/2007 when the season was limited to 

170 days (Figure 4). In 2008/2009-2011/2012 years, the season length ranged from 105 – 176

days. The Alaska Region does not manage fisheries by trips or days at sea; therefore, these 

metrics are not reported.

Figure 3. Number of active vessels participating in the Alaska Weathervane Scallop Fishery.

4

5 5

4 4 4

3 3

4 4

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Number of vessels

Year
13

Figure 4. Number of days during the open regulatory season that any vessel was operating in the 

Alaska Weathervane Scallop Fishery.

c. Revenue 

All revenue and price data have been adjusted by the GDP deflator indexed for 2010. Revenue 

refers to the first wholesale price for shucked scallop meat. Revenue for weathervane scallops 

ranged from $2.2 million to $4.6 million between the 2003/2004 and 2012/2013 fishing seasons

(Figure 5). Revenue was lowest in 2008/2009, coinciding with the lowest scallop landings. 

Average prices for weathervane scallops were $6.00 per pound in 2003/2004 and 2004/2005, 

increasing to nearly $8.50 in 2005/2006 and 2006/2007, decreasing again in 2007/2008 –

2009/2010; however, average scallop prices were greatest in 2011/2012 at $10.00 per pound

(Figure 6). Revenue per vessel averaged $727,000 between 2003/2004 and 2005/2006 (Figure 

7). Revenue per vessel increased to $1 million in 2006/2007, a year in which there was one 

fewer active vessel. Revenue per vessel decreased for the next two years to a low of $555,000, 

but increased in 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 to a high of $1.3 million in 2010/2011. These last 

two years of increased revenue per vessel also coincided with a decrease in the number of active 

vessels in the fishery.

Data are not available to calculate landings (or, therefore, revenue) of other species on scallop 

trips. Also, since the Alaska Region does not manage fisheries by trips or days at sea, the 

associated metrics cannot be calculated.

206 201

219

170

204

105

173

133

176

0

50

100

150

200

250

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Season length (days)
14

Figure 5. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) in the Alaska Weathervane Scallop Fishery.

Figure 6. Average prices (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per pound scallop meat in the Alaska 

Weathervane Scallop Fishery.

3.0

2.7

4.4

4.1

2.8

2.2

3.2

3.8

4.6

4.2

 -

 1

 2

 3

 4

 5

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue (millions of $)

Year

6.13 6.25

8.34 8.39

6.18 6.47 6.56

8.35

10.19 10.01

0.00

2.00

4.00

6.00

8.00

10.00

12.00

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Price ($ per pound of meat)

Year
15

Figure 7. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per active vessel in the Alaska Weathervane 

Scallop Fishery.

The Gini was employed to characterize the distribution of revenue among active vessels in the 

Alaska Weathervane Scallop Fishery. A value of zero represents a perfectly equal distribution of 

revenue amongst the vessels, whereas, a value of one represents a perfectly unequal 

distribution. The Gini coefficient is calculated using landings data, while the majority of the other 

metrics are reported in the 2012 Scallop Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation document 

that uses Alaska Observer data. Landings data have one fewer vessel in the fishery for

2006/2007 and 2007/2008 and one more vessel in 2009/2010 and 2010/2011. While one vessel 

is a small amount, there were only three active vessels in those years; therefore, there may be 

substantial changes in the Gini coefficient as a result of the number of vessels included in the 

calculation. In 2003/2004, the Gini coefficient was 0.50 and increased to 0.66 in 2004/2005

(Figure 8). Since then, the Gini coefficient has been decreasing. In 2011/2012, the Gini 

coefficient was at a low of 0.21, suggesting an increasingly equal distribution of landings revenue 

among active vessels. 

753,390

531,484

876,320

1,022,531

707,703

553,738

1,067,016

1,279,663

1,161,792

1,045,412

0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

1,400,000

1,600,000

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue per vessel ($)

Year
16

Figure 8. The Gini coefficient for vessels participating in the Alaska Weathervane Scallop Fishery.

d. Synopsis of recent trends 

In 1997, prior to the Federal License Limitation Program for scallops that restricts federal permits 

to nine vessels, the State of Alaska instituted a vessel entry moratorium in the state-waters 

Weathervane Scallop Fishery. In 2002, the moratorium was replaced with a vessel-based limited 

entry program that was intended to expire on December 30, 2008. In June 2008, the deadline 

was extended until December 30, 2013, but this deadline passed without any new legislation. In 

February 2014, the Alaska Board of Fisheries adopted the State-Waters Weathervane Scallop 

Management Plan (5 AAC 38.078), which became effective on April 1, 2014 and reverted the 

state-waters fishery to a nearly open access fishery for the 2014/2015 season. The management 

plan requires vessels to pre-register prior to April 1 to show their intent to participate in the 

state-waters fishery, and allows for spatial and temporal closures and trip limits to manage effort 

exerted on the resource. Vessels are also required to obtain observer coverage to participate in 

the fishery, and only participants holding Federal License Limitation Program scallop licenses 

completed the required registration process for the 2014/2015 season.

0.50

0.66

0.56

0.35 0.33

0.30

0.33

0.27

0.21

0.00

0.10

0.20

0.30

0.40

0.50

0.60

0.70

0.80

0.90

1.00

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Gini coefficient

Year
17

B. Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish

Approximately 74 species of rockfish are found in the Northeast Pacific and comprise an 

important component of commercial catches in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands as well as 

the Gulf of Alaska. Along with other groundfish species in the Northeast Pacific, rockfish were

harvested by Japan and the Soviet Union beginning in the 1960’s, and high fishing effort in these 

years caused precipitous declines in abundance and catches until the fishery was restricted to 

U.S. vessels in 1985. Most rockfish in the Gulf of Alaska are caught by vessels participating in 

the Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Program (a catch share program). The Gulf of Alaska Other 

Rockfish Fishery includes a number of rockfish species in the Western and Eastern (West Yakutat 

and Southeast Outside) Gulf of Alaska, as well as the small minor rockfish species in the Central 

Gulf of Alaska that are not included in the Rockfish Program.

1. Fishery synopsis

a. Gear used 

Vessels participating in the Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish Fishery may use any gear type to 

target rockfish, though most use trawl gear and may be catcher vessels or catcher/processors.

Whereas catcher/processors process and freeze their catch onboard, catcher vessels deliver their 

catch to a processor. 

b. Target/component species 

In the Gulf of Alaska, the primary targeted rockfish species include Pacific Ocean perch, northern 

rockfish, dusky rockfish, and a group of “other” rockfish consisting of 17 species. Secondarily 

targeted species include Pacific cod, blackspotted/rougheye rockfish, shortraker rockfish, and 

sablefish. The directed fisheries are open for Pacific Ocean perch, northern rockfish and dusky 

rockfish, but the others are taken as incidental catch in other target fisheries. The catch of 

shortraker, blackspotted/rougheye, and “other” rockfish is restricted. The suite of rockfish 

species in the North Pacific is relatively long-lived, with lifespans ranging from 50 - 200 years.

c. Market channels

Rockfish caught by catcher vessels in the Gulf of Alaska have traditionally been delivered to 

Kodiak Island processors. All targeted rockfish that are processed onboard catcher/processors 

are sold as whole or headed and gutted fish since most catcher/processors are not equipped to 

produce more complex products. Most, if not all, of this product is delivered to Asia, where whole 

fish are typically sold to the local market. Headed and gutted products are generally reprocessed 

into other products. On the whole, it is difficult to assess the distribution of the sector’s 

production among consumer markets, as much of the reprocessed fish enters the international 

seafood market.
18

2. Management Program

a. Current management controls

NOAA Fisheries and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council manage rockfish in the Gulf of 

Alaska under the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. Most of the 

Central Gulf of Alaska rockfish Total Allowable Catch (TAC) is allocated to the Central Gulf of 

Alaska Rockfish Program. The Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Program catcher vessels fishing 

under an annual cooperative fishing quota are also allowed to participate in the entry level 

longline fishery provided the catcher vessel cooperative’s designated representative submits a 

check out report for the vessel. In the Western and Eastern Gulf of Alaska, any gear type can be 

used to target rockfish in the federal fisheries except in the demersal shelf rockfish fishery in the 

Southeast Outside district. Unless they are exempt from Gulf of Alaska License Limitation 

Program requirements, participants in the rockfish fishery must hold a License Limitation 

Program license. Licenses are endorsed with area, gear, vessel type, and vessel length 

designations. The fishery season is from January 1 to December 31 of each year except for trawl 

gear, the season is July 1 to December 31, and harvesters are not required to submit an 

application to NOAA Fisheries in order to participate. In the Southeast Outside district of the Gulf 

of Alaska, the demersal shelf rockfish fishery is managed by the State of Alaska with oversight 

from the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. Vessels fishing for demersal shelf rockfish in 

this area are not required to hold a Federal License Limitation Program license.

b. Key changes from past management controls 

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council adopted the Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish 

Program and NOAA Fisheries implemented the Program in 2012. Since its inception, the Rockfish 

Program has received at least 95% of the TAC for rockfish species in the Central Gulf of Alaska. 

However, two TAC set asides of primary rockfish species are made prior to allocations to Rockfish 

Program cooperatives. One of these set asides is reserved for the entry-level longline fishery, 

which is considered part of the Rockfish Program. The Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish Fishery 

consists of the remaining portion of the TAC set aside, an allowance to support the incidental 

catch of rockfish by participants in non-rockfish directed fisheries.

Groundfish stock groupings for establishing catch limits have evolved over time as new scientific 

information became available and new markets developed for certain species. Through the years,

several rockfish species have been separated from multispecies complexes and assigned their 

own catch limits. Figure 9 depicts this progression in the Gulf of Alaska.
19

Figure 9. Gulf of Alaska Historical Rockfish Species Groupings. (Groundfish Species Profiles, 

North Pacific Fishery Management Council, 2011)

3. Management Objectives

The Groundfish Fishery Management Plans for both of the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea and 

Aleutian Islands identify several management objectives in addition to the National Standards 

established under the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council 

established 45 specific objectives that fall under ten primary goal areas for the management of 

the Groundfish Fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. These 

goals are to:

A. Prevent overfishing.

B. Promote sustainable fisheries and communities.

C. Preserve the food web.

D. Manage incidental catch.

E. Reduce bycatch and waste.

F. Avoid impacts to seabirds and marine mammals.

G. Reduce and avoid impacts to habitat.

H. Promote equitable and efficient use of fishery resources. 

I. Increase Alaska Native consultation.

J. Improve data quality, monitoring, and enforcement.

4. Recent Trends

a. Landings

Prior to 2007, TAC and landings included all Gulf of Alaska allocations for all rockfish species, 

including those managed as bycatch in other targeted fisheries. In 2003-2006, TAC allocation 

Pacific Ocean Perch/ 

Other Rockfish

Shortraker 

Rockfish 2005

1980

1988

1991

1993

4

Northern 

Rockfish

Pelagic 

Shelf 

Rockfish

Demersal 

Shelf 

Rockfish

Slope 

Rockfish

Other 

Slope 

Rockfish

Shortraker/ 

Rougheye

Pacific 

Ocean Perch

Blackspotted/ 

Rougheye

Thornyheads
20

averaged 29,000 metric tons per year (Figure 10). In 2004, the TAC decreased by 9% relative to 

2003; in 2005 and 2006 it increased by 4% and 10%, respectively, compared to the previous 

year. 

The Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Pilot Program, a catch share program in effect from 2007 to 

2011 (replaced by the Rockfish Program for 2012 onward), allocated quota of Central Gulf of 

Alaska rockfish species to trawl vessels and an entry-level longline sector. To account for the 

Rockfish Pilot Program, indicators for 2007 and later exclude allocations for the Central Gulf of 

Alaska primary (targeted) rockfish species groups, except for incidental catch allowances caught 

by vessels outside the Rockfish Pilot Program, and allocations of secondary (incidental catch) 

rockfish species to the Rockfish Program Cooperatives. This change accounts for the significant 

decrease (-44%) in TAC between 2006 and 2007. From 2007-2012, the average annual TAC was 

16,300 metric tons; the average TAC in 2012 was 11% lower than the average TAC in 2011.

Landings for the Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish fishery followed a similar trend as the TAC until 

2007, when the utilization of the TAC began to decrease from about 70% to 56% per year

(largely a result of moving many of the targeted rockfish species into the Rockfish Program). In 

2012, the utilization of the TAC was 55% (Figure 11). Utilization is low in this fishery because 

there are multiple rockfish species included in this fishery and many of these species do not have 

a target fishery. Species that do not have a target fishery are managed as incidental catch in 

other target rockfish fisheries. In the event that fishermen exceed the allocation for some 

rockfish species, there are many other species in the fishery that are not caught near their 

allocation and could be targeted. Based on Figure 10, the difference between the allocation and 

catch was relatively stable throughout the entire time period (averages 8,491 metric tons from 

2003-2006 and 7,540 from 2007-2011), which is constant despite the 50% decreased allocation 

between 2003-2006 and 2007-2011.
21

Figure 10. The TAC and landings for the Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish Fishery.

Figure 11. Percent utilization of available TAC in the Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish Fishery.

29,680

27,058

27,999

30,713

17,162 16,669 16,392 16,820 16,368

14,628

19,840 19,723 19,011

21,246

9,685 9,102 9,173 9,172

7,580 7,999

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Quota and landings (metric tons)

Year

Quota

Landings

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Utilization of quota

Year
22

b. Effort

The number of permits for the Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish Fishery represents the number of 

License Limitation Program groundfish licenses with endorsements for any Gulf of Alaska 

management area, which is the total number of potential entrants into any segment of the 

fishery. Between 2003 and 2012, there have been as many as 1,718 (2003) License Limitation 

Program licenses issued and as few as 1,617 (2010) (Figure 12). The number of License 

Limitation Program holders has been decreasing by less than 1% each year from 2003 until 

2008. In 2009, the number of holders decreased by 3% relative to 2008. Since 2009, the 

number of License Limitation Program holders has been slightly increasing. Active vessels are the 

number of vessels with retained catch attributed from Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish Fishery 

allocations. There were 785 active vessels participating in the Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish 

Fishery in 2003 (Figure 13). In 2005, there was a low of 703 vessels actively participating in the 

fishery. Since then, there have been as many as 734 active vessels and in 2012, there were 729

vessels actively participating in the fishery. 

The season length is the number of days per calendar year any Gulf of Alaska rockfish species in 

any regulatory area was open to directed fishing using trawl gear. The regulatory season for 

rockfish directed fishing using trawl gear is defined as the first day of the third quarterly 

reporting period of a fishing year (July 1) through December 31st. The actual number of days 

open to directed fishing for a given species and area may be less than the full regulatory season 

and is dependent on utilization of the species-area allocation and halibut prohibited species catch 

limits.

Seasons for rockfish directed fishing using pot, jig, and hook-and-line gear open January 1 and 

remain open throughout the year, subject to attainment of TACs and prohibited species catch

limits. From 2003 to 2011, non-trawl fishing has accounted for no more than 12% of retained 

Gulf of Alaska rockfish landings in a given year. In 2003, directed fishing was open for 109 days

(Figure 14). In 2004 and 2005, directed fishing was open for less than one month; however, in 

the following year, the fishery was open for 100 days. In 2007, the season length increased to 

169 days and again increased to 184 days for 2008 - 2011. In 2012, the fishery was open for 32 

days. The Alaska Region does not manage fisheries by trips or days at sea; therefore, these 

metrics are not reported.
23

Figure 12. Number of License Limitation Program holders in the Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish 

Fishery.

Figure 13. Active vessels in the Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish Fishery.

1,718 1,702 1,689 1,686 1,680 1,676 1,669

1,617 1,622 1,640

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1,800

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Number of permits

Year

785

731 711

736 735 735 741 734 728 729

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Number of vessels

Year
24

Figure 14. Number of days when fishing was open in the Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish Fishery.

c. Revenue 

Fishery revenue (inflation adjusted with the GDP deflator, indexed for 2010) is the estimated exvessel value of retained catch, priced using annual weighted average shore-side processor 

purchase prices for the Gulf of Alaska by species and gear type (fixed and trawl gear). The 

revenue values do not include any premium for catch harvested and processed on board by 

catcher/processors. Revenue from landings of Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish has been as high as 

$4.9 million (2007; Figure 15). Revenue has been as low as $2.7 million (2003), however, 

average annual revenue from 2003-2012 was $3.7 million. 

109

23 28

100

169

184 184 184 184

32

0

50

100

150

200

250

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Season length (days)

Year
25

Figure 15. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) in the Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish Fishery

The average price for Gulf of Alaska Other rockfish was about $340 per metric ton in 2003 and 

2004, steadily increasing each year to a high of $531 per metric ton in 2008 (Figure 16). In 

2009, the average price of this harvest decreased (by 34%) to $351 per metric ton relative to 

2008. This decrease in price occurred when revenues were at their lowest, but landings were still 

stable. Compared to the previous year, average prices increased for the next three years (by 

10% in 2010, 19% in 2011 and 25% in 2012) to a high of $574 per metric ton. Revenue per 

vessel was $3,411 in 2003; it increased annually until 2007 to $6,605. Revenue per vessel was 

most likely greatest in 2007 because revenues were substantially greater but the number of 

active vessels was constant. Between 2007 and 2011, revenue per vessel was on a downward 

trend (Figure 17). However, revenue per vessel in 2012 was 32% greater than revenue per 

vessel in 2011. 

Data are not currently available to calculate landings of other species on trips in this fishery.

Also, since the Alaska Region does not manage fisheries by trips or days at sea, the associated 

metrics cannot be calculated.

$2.7

$2.9 $2.7

$4.2

$4.9 $4.8

$3.2

$3.5 $3.5

$4.6

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue (millions of $)

Year
26

Figure 16. Average price (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per metric ton in the Gulf of Alaska 

Other Rockfish Fishery.

Figure 17. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per vessel in the Gulf of Alaska Other

Rockfish Fishery.

134.98 146.31 142.99

195.48

501.27

530.51

351.16

386.74

458.34

574.28

0.00

100.00

200.00

300.00

400.00

500.00

600.00

700.00

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Price ($ per metric ton)

Year

3,411

3,948 3,823

5,643

6,605 6,570

4,347

4,833 4,772

6,301

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue per vessel ($)

Year
27

The Gini coefficient measures the equality of a distribution and is used here to measure the 

distribution of revenue among active vessels in the Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish Fishery. A value 

of zero represents a perfectly equal distribution of revenue amongst the vessels, whereas, a 

value of one represents a perfectly unequal distribution. The Gini coefficient has been greater 

than 0.8 for the entire period reported (Figure 18), which may suggest a very unequal 

distribution of revenue. However, the revenue of active vessels includes those vessels that

participate in other fisheries (IFQ Halibut and Sablefish), but are required to retain their catch of 

rockfish. This means that when calculating the Gini coefficient, the number of active vessels most 

of which have very small revenue shares is much higher than the actual number of vessels that 

target rockfish in this fishery. Therefore, the calculated Gini coefficient ends up being much 

higher than expected.

Figure 18. The Gini coefficient of those active vessels in the Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish 

Fishery.

d. Synopsis of recent trends 

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council is currently discussing plans to create a Gulf of 

Alaska trawl bycatch management plan, which may allocate quota to individuals, cooperatives, or 

community entities. Depending on the final configuration and completion of the program, it may 

be considered a catch share program. The Council, in their October 5, 2013 motion, stated that 

“The primary objective of this action is to improve incentives for prohibited species catch

reduction and management, achieved in several ways through this program design.” In addition 

to minimizing chinook salmon bycatch and more efficient use of halibut prohibited species catch, 

the primary target species of interest in the program are walleye pollock and Pacific cod

(hereafter pollock and cod). However, many other rockfish and flatfish species are also targeted 

by vessels targeting pollock and cod, and therefore some participants are concerned that 

0.80 0.81 0.82

0.86 0.88 0.88

0.83

0.86 0.86

0.90

0.00

0.10

0.20

0.30

0.40

0.50

0.60

0.70

0.80

0.90

1.00

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Gini coefficient

Year
28

allocating quota to pollock and cod will increase effort in these other trawl fisheries. Depending 

on how that program evolves over the next year(s), the likely result will be changes in the Other 

Rockfish fishery and its participants. 
29

West Coast Region

The West Coast Region manages over 90 species of groundfish, coastal pelagics, highly 

migratory species, and 30 threatened or endangered fish and marine mammal species, including 

certain stocks of Pacific salmon.

Federal fisheries in this region are managed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council and 

NOAA Fisheries under five fishery management plans: groundfish, salmon, Pacific Halibut, 

coastal pelagic species and highly migratory species (HMS). Coastal pelagic species are highly 

variable, environmentally sensitive stocks that provide forage for marine mammals, birds, and 

other fish. Highly migratory species include larger, pelagic fish inhabiting vast geographical 

ranges that span international borders. As such, highly migratory species require coordinated 

management between countries with fishing interests in the Pacific Ocean. Even though the 

domestic portions of both the coastal pelagic and HMS fisheries occur off the entire West Coast,

the primary management, enforcement, and research priorities have traditionally fallen under 

the scope of the NOAA Fisheries Southwest Regional Office and Southwest Fisheries Science 

Center.

A number of species including sardines and market squid are manged under Coastal Pelagic 

Species Fishery Management Plan. However, directed fisheries have developed for market squid 

and sardines where either squid or sardines are targeted with very low incidental landings of the 

other. Trips that land market squid land very little of any other species an trips that land 

sardines land little else other than sardines. This is also true of albacore and swordfish, which are 

both managed under the Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan. That is, trips 

landing alabacore almost exclusievely land albacore and trips that land swordfiany land only 

incidental landings of other species. Since distinct fisheries have developed around these four 

species, performance characteristics may be differ. For this reason, indicators of fishery 

performance are reported separately for the sardine, market squid, albacore, and swordfish 

fisheries (Table 5).

A synopsis of each fishery is provided here, including gears used, target and component species, 

products sold, current management approach, and key changes affecting the fishery. In addition, 

trends are reported for the most recent 11 years from 2002 to 2012. All price and revenue data 

have been adjusted for inflation to 2010 equivalent dollars using the Gross Domestic Product 

price deflator. Except for salmon, which is reported in numbers of fish, all quantities for quotas 

and landings are reported in metric tons.
30

Table 5. West Coast Region Fishery Performance Measures by Fishery in 2012.

Coastal Pelagics Highly Migratory Species

Catch and Landings Salmon Troll Sardines Squid Albacore Swordfish 

Quota allocated to fisherya 70,603 109,409 N/A N/A N/A

Aggregate landingsa 59,699 100,407 97,644 13,873 403

Utilization 84.6% 91.8% N/A N/A N/A

Quota exceeded N N N/A N/A N/A

Effort

Number of permits (number) 2,310 N/A N/A N/A 87

Active vessels (number) 1,093 99 136 854 41

Trips (number) 22,727 2,236 4,293 3,383 370

Days at sea (days) 22,727b 2,236b 4,293b 34,242 N/A

Season length (days) 240 365 365 365 276

Revenue ($)c

Fishery species revenue $18,939,410 $20,617,583 $61,654,806 $43,957,024 $1,008,983

Other species revenue $1,620,488 N/A N/A $60,435 $188,920

Total revenue $20,559,898 $20,617,583 $61,654,806 $44,017,459 $1,197,903

Average price (per pound or metric ton)d $5.09 $205 $631 $3,169 $2,504

Fishery species revenue per vessel $17,328 $208,258 $453,334 $51,472 $24,609

Other species revenue per vessel $1,483 N/A N/A $71 $4,608

Total revenue per vessel $18,811 $208,258 $453,344 $515443 $29,217

Fishery species revenue per trip $833 $9,221 $14,362 $12,994 $2,720

Other species revenue per trip $71 N/A N/A $18 $511

Total revenue per trip $904 $9,221 $14,362 $13,012 $3,238

Fishery species revenue per day at sea $833b $9,221b $14,362

b $1,284 N/A

Other species revenue per day at sea $71b N/A N/A $2 N/A

Total revenue per day at sea $904b $9,221b $14,362b $1,286 N/A

Other

Limited entry Y Y N N Y

e

Gini coefficient 0.60 0.64 0.63 0.74 0.73

a Quota and landings are in number of fish for salmon troll and metric tons for sardines, squid, albacore, and swordfish.

b Days at sea is equal to the number of trips because all trips are less than 24 hours in duration. 

c Revenue and price data have been adjusted by the GDP deflator indexed for 2010.

d Average price per pound (for salmon) and per metric ton (for sardines, squid, albacore, and swordfish).

e Permits for vessels using harpoon gear are open access. 

N/A = not applicable or not available
31

A. West Coast Salmon Troll

The West Coast commercial fishery for Pacific salmon includes the coastal waters of Washington, 

Oregon, and California and waters off these states in the Exclusive Economic Zone (from 3 to 

200 miles offshore; EEZ). Fisheries that operate in the EEZ have been managed by the Pacific 

Fishery Management Council and NOAA Fisheries since 1977. Commercial fisheries in the EEZ 

focus on chinook and coho salmon. Small numbers of pink salmon are also harvested, especially 

in odd-numbered years. Although sockeye, chum, and steelhead salmon are landed in coastal 

waters, there are no directed fisheries for these species in federally-managed waters. Several 

different gears are used in coastal salmon fisheries including gillnets, seine nets, set nets, and 

hook gear whereas only hook and line gear is permitted in the EEZ (hereafter referred to as the 

“ocean troll” or “salmon troll fishery”). During 2012, the combined value of all salmon species 

landed in the Northwest Region was $48.2 million, of which about 41% was from the ocean troll 

fishery. Salmon are an important source of cultural and physical sustenance for Northwest Native 

American tribes, and they are symbolically important to many other residents of the Northwest.

Management of salmon species is complex due to the fact that salmon are affected by a wide 

variety of factors both oceanic and terrestrial, including oceanic and climatic conditions, dams, 

habitat loss, urbanization, agricultural and logging practices, water diversion, and predators.

1. Fishery synopsis

a. Gear used 

Only hook-and-line gear is allowed in ocean salmon fisheries. Commercial troll vessels catch 

salmon by “trolling” lines with bait or lures through groups of feeding fish. Four to six main wire 

lines are fished, each of which may have a cast iron sinker of up to 50 pounds on its terminal 

end and eight to twelve nylon leaders spaced out along its length, each of which ends in either a 

lure or baited hook. To retrieve hooked fish, the lines are wound on spools hydraulically or by 

hand, and the fish are gaffed when alongside the vessel. The troll fishery produces low-volume, 

high-quality products. Troll gear does not contact the ocean floor and therefore, causes no 

habitat impact. Bycatch is also low and usually consists of other salmon species. Further gear 

restrictions specify that vessels may use only single point, single shank, barbless hooks. From 

Cape Falcon, Oregon, to the Oregon/California border, no more than four lines are allowed per 

vessel. From the Oregon/California border to the U.S./Mexico border, no more than six lines are 

allowed per vessel.

b. Target/component species 

Chinook salmon, also called king salmon, are the largest of the Pacific salmon. Like all Pacific 

salmon, chinook are anadromous, meaning that they hatch in freshwater streams and rivers, 

migrate to the ocean for feeding and growth, and return to their natal waters to spawn. The life 

history traits of chinook can be very diverse. Their spawning environments range from just 

above tidewater to over 3,200 kilometers upriver from the ocean. In the ocean, chinook from 

Washington, Oregon and California range widely throughout the Pacific Ocean and the Bering 

Sea, and as far south as the U.S. border with Mexico. Several evolutionarily significant units

have been listed or proposed for listing as at risk for extinction under the Endangered Species 

Act. Chinook salmon are highly prized by commercial, sport, and subsistence fishers. The natural 
32

range of chinook in North America is from the Venture River in California to Kotzebue Sound in 

Alaska. On average, mature chinook salmon are three feet long and weigh 30 pounds.

In North America, coho or “silver” salmon are most abundant from central Oregon to southeast 

Alaska. Coho are also anadromous and have a life history similar to chinook. However, the time 

they spend in fresh and saltwater is relatively fixed, compared to the more variable life history of 

chinook. Coho spend one to three winters in streams and may spend up to five winters in lakes 

before migrating to the sea as smolt. North of central British Columbia, coho tend to spend two 

years in the ocean, while south of this point they spend only one year in the ocean. Coho spawn 

in small tributaries from the San Lorenzo River in Monterey Bay, California to Point Hope, Alaska, 

and throughout the Aleutian Islands. Coho salmon typically grow to be 24 – 30 inches long and 8 

– 12 pounds in weight.

In North America, pink salmon are found from the Arctic coast in Alaska to central California, 

although they do not reproduce in significant numbers south of Puget Sound in Washington. Like 

other Pacific salmon, pink salmon are anadromous; however, unlike chinook and coho, pink 

salmon fry migrate out to sea soon after they are born, returning to spawn after about 18 

months. Independent populations spawn in even and odd years because the pink salmon life 

cycle is so regular. Pink salmon are the smallest of the Pacific salmon found in North America, 

growing to an average length of 20 – 25 inches and an average weight of 3.5 – 5 pounds.

c. Market channels

Chinook and coho are considered highly valuable among salmon species, and as such are sold 

primarily as fresh or frozen filets. Chinook salmon are destined primarily for domestic markets. A 

significant portion of frozen coho salmon is sold to Japan. Most often, pink salmon is processed 

into canned products. Due to domestic demand trends, production of canned salmon products is 

declining, while demand for fresh and frozen fillets is on the rise in U.S. markets.

2. Management Program

a. Current management controls

The Pacific Coast Salmon Fishery Management Plan guides management of salmon fisheries in 

federal waters (from 3 to 200 nautical miles ) off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and 

California. The Fishery Management Plan covers the coastwide aggregate of natural and hatchery 

salmon encountered in ocean salmon fisheries, but only has management objectives and 

allocation provisions for chinook, coho, and pink salmon, as other salmon species are rarely 

encountered in oceanic fisheries. Management tools such as season length, quotas, minimum 

harvest lengths, and fishing gear restrictions vary depending on natural fluctuations in salmon 

abundance. In addition, specific control rules exist for specific stocks. Accountability measures 

are required for all stocks and stock complexes in the Fishery Management Plan that are required 

to have Annual Catch Limits. Annual Catch Limits were implemented for the 2012 fishing season 

for two salmon stocks: Sacramento River fall chinook salmon and Klamath River fall chinook 

salmon. However, prior to 2012 limits on catch were based on quotas and/or harvest guidelines 

that were set for specified components of chinook and coho salmon in each management unit,

which includes Horse Mountain to the U.S./Mexico Border, Humbug Mountain to Horse Mountain, 

Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain, and the U.S./Canada Border to Cape Falcon.
33

Since 1977, the Pacific Fishery Management Council has adopted special measures for the Treaty 

Native American oceanic troll fisheries off the Washington Coast. The Makah, Quileute, Hoh, and 

Quinault tribes are entitled to exercise their treaty rights in certain oceanic areas; in addition, 

Lower S'Klallam, Jamestown S'Klallam, and Port Gamble S'Klallam tribes are entitled by federal 

judicial determination to exercise their treaty rights in oceanic salmon Area 4B, the entrance to 

the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Fishery performance measures for the tribal component of the troll 

fishery are not included in this report.

b. Key changes from past management controls

The primary management issues since 1984 have included:

 Specific spawner escapement goals for Oregon coastal natural coho and Klamath River 

fall chinook (Amendments 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15)

 Non-Native American harvest allocation (Amendments 7, 9, 10, and 14)

 In-season management criteria (Amendment 7)

 Habitat and Essential Fish Habitat definition (Amendments 8 and 14)

 Safety at sea (Amendment 8)

 Fishery status determination criteria (Amendments 10, 14, 16, and 17)

 Management objectives for stocks listed under the Endangered Species Act (Amendments 

12 and 14)

 Bycatch reporting and priorities for avoiding bycatch (Amendment 14)

 Selective fisheries (Amendment 14 and 17)

 Stock classification (Amendment 16 and 17)

 Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures (Amendment 16).

3. Management Objectives

In addition to the National Standards established under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the Pacific 

Fishery Management Council is guided by the principle that there should be no net loss of the 

productive capacity of marine, estuarine, and freshwater habitats that sustain commercial, 

recreational, and tribal salmon fisheries beneficial to the nation. The following objectives guide 

the Council in establishing fisheries in a framework of ecological, social, and economic 

considerations. 

1) Establish ocean exploitation rates for commercial and recreational salmon fisheries that 

are consistent with requirements for stock conservation objectives and Annual Catch 

Limits.

2) Fulfill obligations to provide for Native American harvest opportunity as provided in 

treaties with the United States.

3) Maintain ocean salmon fishing seasons supporting the continuance of established 

recreational and commercial fisheries while meeting salmon harvest allocation 

objectives such that recreational and commercial fishery allocations are fair and 

equitable.

4) Minimize fishery mortalities for those fish not landed from all ocean salmon fisheries as 

consistent with achieving optimum yield and the bycatch management specifications of 

Section 3.5.
34

5) Manage and regulate fisheries so that the optimum yield encompasses the quantity and 

value of food produced, the recreational value, and the social and economic values of 

the fisheries.

6) Develop fair and creative approaches to managing fishing effort and evaluate and apply 

effort management systems as appropriate to achieve these management objectives.

7) Support the enhancement of salmon stock abundance in conjunction with fishing effort 

management programs to facilitate economically viable and socially acceptable 

commercial, recreational, and tribal seasons.

8) Achieve long-term coordination with the member states of the Council, Native American

tribes with federally-recognized fishing rights, Canada, the North Pacific Fishery 

Management Council, Alaska, and other management entities that are responsible for 

salmon habitat or production. Manage the fishery to be consistent with the Pacific 

Salmon Treaty and other international treaty obligations.

9) In recommending seasons, to the extent practicable, promote the safety of human life 

at sea.

4. Recent Trends

a. Quota, catch, landings

The West Coast Salmon Troll Fishery predominantly harvests chinook and coho salmon. Limits 

on catch in the form of either quotas or harvest guidelines, specified by management area and 

species, cover some, but not all of the chinook or coho salmon landed in the states of 

Washington, Oregon, and California. The combined quotas for chinook and coho salmon were set 

at 121,000 fish in 2002 (Figure 19). The aggregate quota limit was increased to 164,000 fish in 

2003, but due to declining return rates was reduced in five consecutive years to just 23,500 fish 

in 2008. The quota was increased to 75,000 fish in 2009 and was increased again to 94,000 fish 

in 2010 before falling to about 50,000 fish in 2011. During 2012, the first year for which an ACL 

was set, the ACL was just over 70,000 fish. From 2002 to 2012, the aggregate quota varied 

considerably by management area and species and in some years catch was prohibited. For coho 

salmon, the only management unit where catches were allowed was Cape Falcon to Humbug 

Mountain and then only in 2007 and 2009. For chinook salmon, catches were not allowed from 

Humbug Mountain to the Oregon/California Border in 2006, 2008, and 2009; from the 

Oregon/California border to Humboldt South Jetty in 2006 and 2008-2010; from Horse Mountain 

to Point Arena 2003 to 2005, 2008, 2009, and 2011; and from Point Arena to Pigeon Point in all 

years except 2006. 

The aggregate catch of chinook and coho salmon subject to quota was 120,800 fish in 2002 

(Figure 19). Aggregate catches followed quotas with time-series high (2002) and lows (2008) 

corresponding to highs and lows in quota. The combined utilization rate for all management units 

subject to quotas was nearly 100% in 2002 and was about 96% in 2004 (Figure 20). From 2005 

to 2012, the utilization rate averaged nearly 77% and ranged from a low of 68.5% in 2008 to a 

high of 84.6% in 2012. This means the combined management unit quotas for chinook and coho 

salmon were not exceeded, catch limits for specific management units were exceeded. These 

include overages in the chinook salmon quota for North of Cape Falcon in 2003 and 2005 and in 

the coho quota North of Cape Falcon in 2004. South of Cape Falcon, no overages occurred for 

coho salmon, but chinook overages occurred in the Oregon/California Border management area 
35

in 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2011; and in the Horse Mountain to Point Arena management area in 

2002 and 2005.

Aggregate landings in the ocean troll fishery for chinook and coho salmon landed in Washington, 

Oregon, or California, including both natural and hatchery salmon totaled 9.2 million pounds 

gutted weight in 2002 (Figure 21).This figure increased to 10.9 million pounds the next year, but 

then declined in two consecutive years reaching 7.5 million pounds in 2005. Total landings fell 

precipitously to a low of 184,000 pounds of fish in 2008. In 2009-2012, total landings recovered 

to 3.7 million pounds in 2012.

Figure 19. Combined non-tribal commercial Pacific salmon quotas and catch in numbers of fish for the 

West Coast Salmon Troll Fishery

121.0

163.6

87.4

75.5

64.8 62.7

23.5

75.3

93.8

49.7

70.6

120.8

91.5 83.7

58.6 52.4 52.0

16.1

55.0

70.2

36.3

59.7

 -

 50

 100

 150

 200

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Quota and landings (thousands of fish)

Year

Quota

Catch
36

Figure 20. Annual quota utilization rate in the non-tribal commercial West Coast Salmon Troll 

Fishery.

Figure 21. Total non-tribal commercial landed pounds (gutted weight) of natural and hatchery 

Pacific salmon in the West Coast Salmon Troll Fishery.

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

110%

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Utilization of quota (%)

Year

9,185

10,949

9,744

7,519

1,774

2,308

184 437

1,277

1,736

3,718

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Landings (thousands of pounds guttted weight)

Year
37

b. Effort 

Permits required to land salmon for commercial sale are issued on a limited access basis by the 

states of Washington, Oregon, and California. In 2002, a total of 2,926 permits were issued by 

the three states (Figure 22). Over time, the number of permits has been on a gradual downward 

trend, declining by about 58 permits per year to 2,310 permits in 2012. The number of vessels 

that participated in the Pacific Coast salmon ocean troll fishery was 1,251 vessels in 2002 (Figure 

23). The number of active vessels was at least 900 vessels through 2007, but dropped to only 

224 active vessels in 2008 as the annual quota reached a low in that year. The number of active 

vessels increased to 322 vessels in 2009 and has increased relatively rapidly as higher catch 

limits were implemented, reaching 1,093 vessels in 2012.

Figure 22. Number of permits in the non-tribal commercial West Coast Salmon Troll Fishery.

2,926 2,862 2,852 2,803

2,693

2,557 2,556 2,501 2,418 2,343 2,310

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Number of permits

Year
38

The West Coast Salmon Troll Fishery is a day fishery in which the duration of a fishing trip is less 

than 24 hours. Data are not collected that would make it possible to reliably estimate time spent 

fishing, and therefore aggregate effort is measured by the number of trips taken in the fishery

where a trip was defined based on a reported landing assuming that vessel do not offload fish at 

more than one site. At least 30,000 trips were taken in each year from 2002 to 2005 (Figure 24).

The number of trips taken during 2006 (14,225) was less than half that taken during 2006 

(30,079). The number of trips was just over 2,000 during 2008 as the catch limit was low in that 

year. As was the case for active vessels, the number of trips taken in the fishery increased along 

with higher catch limits from 3,210 trips in 2009 to 22,727 trips taken during 2012. 

Figure 23. Number of active vessels in the non-tribal commercial West Coast Salmon Troll 

Fishery.

1,251

1,160

1,422

1,336

918

1,116

224

322

701

880

1,093

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Number of vessels

Year
39

Figure 24. Number of trips taken in the non-tribal commercial West Coast Salmon Troll Fishery.

Salmon management involves a number of different openings and closures depending on 

management area. For purposes of reporting, the season length is measured as the number of 

days available on which catch from at least some component of the salmon ocean troll fishery 

may be landed for commercial sale. Defined in this manner, the fishery was open for 300 days in 

each fishing year from 2002 to 2005 (Figure 25). The ocean troll fishery was open for 240 days 

during 2006 and was open for 270 days in 2007 after which the season was reduced in both 

2008 and 2009 to 180 days where it remained for both 2009 and 2010. The fishery returned to 

240 days in 2011 and remained at 240 days during 2012.

31,007 30,355

36,539

30,079

14,225

17,178

2,032

3,210

8,702

12,785

22,727

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Number of trips

Year
40

Figure 25. Season length in the non-tribal commercial West Coast Salmon Troll Fishery.

c. Revenue 

All revenue and pricing data have been adjusted the GDP deflator, indexed for 2010. Aggregate 

revenue from all species sold on trips that landed either chinook or coho salmon on the West 

Coast was $17.6 million in 2002 (Figure 26), of which 94% was from chinook or coho salmon. 

Aggregate revenue increased in both 2003 and 2004 to $35.5 million before declining steadily to 

a low of $1.4 million in 2008. Since 2008, aggregate fishery revenues have been increasing and 

were $20.6 million in 2012. Since the fishery primarily targets chinook and coho salmon, 

earnings as a share of aggregate revenue from other species remained relatively low (less than 

10% in all years except for 2008 and 2010 where revenue earned from species other than 

salmon were about 12% of total revenue).

300 300 300 300

240

270

210

180 180

240 240

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Season length (days)

Year
41

Figure 26. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) from Pacific salmon and all other species 

combined in the non-tribal West Coast Salmon Troll Fishery.

The inflation-adjusted average price for all chinook and coho salmon sold was $1.80 per pound 

(gutted weight) in 2002 (Figure 27). Prices in following years increased at an average annual 

rate of 26.8% reaching $6.67 per pound gutted weight in 2008. This trend is consistent with 

market response to the general downward trend in landings over these years. As landed 

quantities increased in 2009, the average gutted price declined to $3.50 per pound. However, 

the average price was above $5.00 per pound in each year from 2010 to 2012, although prices 

declined in each of these years as landed quantities were trending downward.

16.6

23.8

32.9

25.0

9.7

12.1

1.2 1.5

7.2 9.0

18.9

1.0

1.6

2.6

1.4

0.8

0.7

0.2 0.2

0.9

0.8

1.6

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

35.0

40.0

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue (millions of $)

Year

 Non-fishery revenue

 Fishery revenue
42

Figure 27. Average gutted weight price per pound (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) for Pacific 

salmon in the non-tribal West Coast Salmon Troll Fishery.

Total fishing revenue per active vessel was increasing from 2002 to 2004 from $14,062 per 

vessel to $24,985 per vessel (Figure 28). Note that these revenues exclude any revenue that 

may be received from Alaskan fisheries or other non-fishing sources such as salmon disaster 

payments. This upward trend in revenue per vessel reversed itself as revenue per vessel declined 

from 2005 through 2009 at which time total revenue per vessel reached a low of just $5,253. 

During 2010 and 2011 revenue per active vessel was nearly constant at just over $11,000, but 

increased to $18,811 per vessel in 2012. On a per trip basis, total revenue follows a pattern

similar to that of revenue per vessel, although the inter-annual differences in revenue per trip 

are less pronounced (Figure 29). That is, revenue per trip increased from 2002 through 2004 

followed by a downward trend in revenue per trip from 2005 to 2009. Over the most recent three 

years, total revenue per trip has increased averaging nearly $900 per trip and was $905 during 

2012.

1.80

2.17

3.38 3.32

5.47

5.26

6.67

3.50

5.60

5.21 5.09

0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.00

7.00

8.00

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Price ($ per pound gutted weight)

Year
43

Figure 28. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per vessel from Pacific salmon and all other 

species combined in the non-tribal West Coast Salmon Troll Fishery.

Figure 29. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per trip from Pacific salmon and all other 

species combined in the non-tribal West Coast Salmon Troll Fishery.

13,245

20,512

23,158

18,700

10,577 10,880

5,478 4,757

10,202 10,277

17,328

817

1,344

1,827

1,067

843 605

700

495

1,292 936

1,483

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue per vessel ($)

Year

 Non-fishery revenue

 Fishery revenue

534

784

901

831

683 707

604

477

822

707

833

33

51

71

47

54 39

77

50

104

64

71

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue per trip ($)

Year

 Non-fishery revenue

 Fishery revenue
44

The Gini coefficient for the West Coast Salmon Troll Fishery was 0.56 in 2002 (Figure 30). As an 

indicator of the relative distribution of revenue among active vessels, the Gini coefficient was 

nearly constant ranging between 0.54 in 2005 to 0.60 in 2003 suggesting that there was 

relatively little change in how fishery revenues were distributed among vessels that participated 

in the fishery. The Gini coefficient was a time-series high of 0.64 during 2009, but has since 

declined over three consecutive years to 0.54 in 2012.

Figure 30. The Gini coefficient for vessels participating in the non-tribal commercial West Coast 

Salmon Troll Fishery.

d. Synopsis of recent trends 

Chinook salmon stocks that spawn in California and Oregon rivers intermingle in the ocean and 

are harvested together off the coasts of the two states. Klamath River fall chinook and 

Sacramento River fall chinook are key stocks with respect to landings and regulation of the 

salmon fishery. The steep decline in chinook salmon landings in 2006 and persistently low 

landings levels through 2011 were driven by two sequential Commercial Fisheries Disasters 

affecting these key stocks.2The first disaster was the result of low returns of Klamath River fall 

chinook due to natural causes, including drought and poor ocean conditions. Although a complete 

closure of the fishery was avoided, landings in 2006 and 2007 were well below recent year

averages. This situation was immediately followed by complete closure of commercial and sport 

fisheries off California and most of Oregon in 2008 due to collapse of the Sacramento River fall 

chinook run, again largely due to unfavorable ocean conditions. Under this second disaster, the 

commercial fishery remained closed through 2009. Commercial salmon harvests began to be 

 

2 See: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/sf3/disaster_determinations.htm

0.56

0.60

0.57

0.54 0.54 0.56 0.55

0.64 0.63

0.60

0.54

0.00

0.10

0.20

0.30

0.40

0.50

0.60

0.70

0.80

0.90

1.00

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Gini coefficient

Year
45

allowed again in 2010 and 2011, although landings were still near historically low levels. By 

2012, salmon landings were back above 2006 levels although still less than half of the amount 

(by weight) landed in 2005 (Figure 21). However, due to relatively high average landings prices 

observed during the period (Figure 27), total 2012 commercial fishery revenue was somewhat 

less negatively affected than landings at 22% below its inflation-adjusted 2005 level (Figure 26).
46

B. Coastal Pelagics (Sardines and squids)

1. Fishery synopsis

a. Gear used 

The Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan authorizes the use of net gear, hook-andline, pots (traps), longlines, and any other type of gear as legal gear for the commercial harvest 

of coastal pelagic species, unless such gear is specifically prohibited by state law. Generally, 

coastal pelagic species are targeted with “round-haul” gear including purse seines, drum seines, 

lampara nets, and dip nets. They are also taken incidentally with mid-water trawl, pelagic trawl, 

gillnet, trammel net, troll, pot, hook-and-line, and jig gear.

b. Target/component species 

Stocks managed under the Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan include Pacific 

sardine, Pacific (chub) mackerel, northern anchovy, market squid, jack mackerel, and all krill 

species. Of these, Pacific sardine is the most commonly targeted coastal pelagic finfish species. 

Given that the Pacific Fishery Management Council intends to continue to expand its 

consideration of ecological factors when developing management measures for coastal pelagic 

species, Pacific herring and jacksmelt are managed as ecosystem component species to ensure 

continued monitoring of their incidental catch and bycatch in coastal pelagic species fisheries.

c. Market channels

Revenues from the Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan are primarily from sardines 

(51%) and market squid (43%). Most processors and buyers of coastal pelagic species on the 

West Coast are located in California, mainly in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Ventura, and 

Monterey. Some are also located in the Columbia River port areas of Oregon and Washington. 

Most of the market squid and Pacific sardines caught in the United States are exported. Market 

squid are mainly exported to China, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Spain, while sardines are 

mainly exported to Japan, where they are used for human consumption and as bait for longline 

fisheries. Sardines are also exported to Australia, where they are used to feed farmed bluefin 

tuna. A very small amount of sardines landed in Oregon and Washington are sold to local

restaurants. Mackerel are exported to Japan, the Philippines, and Malta for human consumption.

2. Management Program

a. Current management controls

The Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan includes three management categories or 

tiers for coastal pelagic species fish stocks: “active” management, "monitored" management, 

and “prohibited harvest” management. "Actively” managed stocks include those with biologically 

significant levels of catch and/or biological or socioeconomic considerations requiring relatively 

intense harvest management procedures. This management approach is designed in order to use 

available agency resources in the most efficient and effective manner while satisfying the goals 

and objectives of the Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan. Active management may 

be characterized by periodic stock assessments and/or periodic adjustments of target harvest 
47

levels based on maximum sustainable yield control rules. “Monitored” management applies to 

stocks and fisheries not requiring intensive harvest management and where monitoring of 

landings and available abundance indices are considered sufficient to manage the stock. 

Monitored management involves tracking trends in landings and qualitative comparisons to 

available abundance data, but without periodic stock assessments or periodic adjustments to 

target harvest levels. Species in both categories may be subject to management measures such 

as catch allocations, gear regulations, closed areas, closed seasons, or other forms of active 

management. “Prohibited harvest” pertains to stocks that are prohibited to target, harvest or 

land in any fishery within the West Coast EEZ. Currently, this management category consists of 

all species of krill that occur in the West Coast EEZ. 

b. Key changes from past management controls

In March 2006, the Pacific Fishery Management Council adopted Amendment 12 to the Coastal 

Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan, which included a complete ban on commercial fishing 

for all species of krill in West Coast federal waters. This broad prohibition still applies to all 

vessels in waters managed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council and was intended to 

protect krill’s vital role in the marine ecosystem. Amendment 13 was initiated in 2009 to 

incorporate new National Standard 1 guidelines that were developed in response to the 

Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization Act of 2006. These National Standard 1 guidelines require 

fishery management plans to establish a mechanism for specifying Annual Catch Limits to 

prevent and end overfishing. Amendment 13 thus adds sector-specific Annual Catch Limits, 

Annual Catch Targets, and Accountability Measures. In addition, the amendment accounts for 

uncertainty by including a buffer, or reduction, in Acceptable Biological Catch relative to the 

overfishing limit.

3. Management Objectives

In addition to the National Standards established under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the specific 

goals and objectives of the Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan include the 

following:

1) Promote efficiency and profitability in the fishery, including stability of catch. 

2) Achieve optimum yield. 

3) Encourage cooperative international and interstate management of coastal pelagic 

species. 

4) Accommodate existing fishery segments. 

5) Avoid discards. 

6) Provide adequate forage for dependent species. 

7) Prevent overfishing. 

8) Acquire biological information and develop long-term research program. 

9) Foster effective monitoring and enforcement. 

10) Use resources spent on management of coastal pelagic species efficiently. 

11) Minimize gear conflicts.
48

4. Recent Trends

a. Quota and landings – West Coast Sardines

Landings of sardines peaked at 127,800 metric tons in 2007, a 48% increase over average 

landings in the previous five years from 2002-2006 (Figure 31). Landings in 2008 declined to 

87,200 metric tons and had been on a downward trend through 2011 in which landings were 

46,700 metric tons before rebounding to 100.4 metric tons in 2012. From 2002 to 2010, the 

fishery operated with a harvest guideline that set a target harvest level for the fishery whereas 

2011 was the first year in which a formal quota was established. The harvest guidelines were not 

exceeded in any year and utilization was generally increasing from 65% in 2003 to 100% of the 

harvest guideline in 2009 (Figure 32). The sardine quota was set at 50,500 metric tons in 2011 

and 109,400 metric tons in 2012. In neither year was the quota exceeded with a quota utilization 

rate of about 92%.

Figure 31. Quota and landings (metric tons) in the West Coast Sardine Fishery.

118.4

110.9

122.7

136.2

118.9

152.6

89.1

66.9

72.0

50.5

109.4

96.9

71.9

89.4 86.5 86.6

127.8

87.2

67.1 66.9

46.7

100.4

0.0

20.0

40.0

60.0

80.0

100.0

120.0

140.0

160.0

180.0

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Weight (thousands of metric tons)

Year

Quota

Landings
49

Figure 32. Utilization of Harvest Guideline or Quota in the West Coast Sardine Fishery

b. Effort – West Coast Sardines

The number of vessels that participated in the sardine fishery declined from 98 active vessels in 

2002 to 83 active vessels in 2006 (Figure 33). However, the number of active vessels increased 

over the next three consecutive years reaching a high of 110 active vessels in 2009. Since 2009,

the number of vessels participating in the sardine fishery declined to 103 vessels in 2010 and to 

86 vessels in 2011, before increasing to 99 vessels in 2012.

Trip duration in the sardine fishery is almost exclusively less than 24 hours. This means that the 

annual number of trips and annual days at sea are equivalent metrics for this fishery. For this 

reason, only the number of trips is reported herein. Vessels participating in the sardine fishery 

took more trips (3,849) in 2002 than in any other year (Figure 34). Since 2002, the number of 

trips taken in the sardine fishery has exceeded 3,000 in only 2004 (3,315) and in 2007 (3,603). 

In fact, the number of trips taken in the sardine fishery was on a downward trend reaching a 

time-series low of 1,235 trips in 2011. However, the number of trips taken in the sardine fishery 

increased to 2,236 trips in 2012. In terms of fishing season, the sardine fishery has not been 

closed to the harvesting of sardines in any year. Although this does not necessarily mean that 

sardines were landed on every day, it does mean that the fishery has been open for a full 

calendar year in every year from 2002 to 2012.

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

110%

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Utilization of quota (%)

Year
50

Figure 33. Number of active vessels participating in the West Coast Sardine Fishery.

Figure 34. Number of trips taken by those participating in the West Coast Sardine Fishery.

98

91 89

94

83

95 98

110

103

86

99

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Number of vessels

Year

3,849

2,793

3,315

2,882

2,580

3,603

2,605

2,052 2,109

1,235

2,236

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

4,500

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Number of trips

Year
51

c. Revenue – West Coast Sardines 

Revenue from species other than sardines is effectively zero since trips taken in the sardine 

fishery land little else. Inflation-adjusted revenue (adjusted by the GDP 2010 deflator) from the 

sardine fishery was $16.5 million in 2002 (Figure 35). Sardine revenues declined to $10.8 million 

in 2003, rebounded to $14.1 million in 2004 then declined gradually to $11.6 million in 2006. 

Sardine revenues increased to $14.6 million in 2007, an increase that corresponded with the 

time-series high in landings that occurred in 2007. However, sardine revenues in 2008 ($15.8

million) were higher than that of 2007 even though landings were lower by about 41,000 metric 

tons. The lower landings were offset by an increase in the average price per metric ton from 

$117.10 in 2007 to $181.25 in 2008 (Figure 36). Prices were also higher in both 2009 and 2010, 

which led to sardine revenues that were only 2% lower than the 2002-2006 average even 

though landings in 2009 and 2010 were 22% (about 19,000 metric tons) lower than average 

landings during 2002-2006. In 2011, the average price reached a time-series high of $207.87

per metric ton, which was enough to generate $9.7 million at a level of landings that was 30% 

lower than 2009 or 2010 and 46% less than the 2002-2006 average. In 2012, the average price 

remained relatively high at $205.34 even though landings more than doubled resulting in a timeseries high of $20.6 million in sardine fishery revenue.

Figure 35. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) in the West Coast Sardine Fishery.

16.5

10.8

14.1 13.5

11.6

15.0

15.8

13.3 12.8

9.7

20.6

 -

 5

 10

 15

 20

 25

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue (millions of $)

Year
52

Figure 36. Average prices (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) earned in the West Coast Sardine 

Fishery.

Revenue per vessel in the sardine fishery was $168,600 in 2002 (Figure 37). After declining to 

$118,800 per vessel in 2003, revenue per vessel rose to $161,300 per vessel in 2008. Revenue 

per vessel declined to $121,200 per vessel in 2009 and was $113,000 per vessel in 2011 before 

increasing to a time-series high of $208,300 per vessel in 2012.

The trend in sardine revenue per trip reflects the number of trips, as revenue per trip has been 

on an increasing trend from $4,293 in 2002 to $9,221 per trip in 2012 (Figure 38). This 

increasing trend is due to the fact that declines in number of trips is more than offset by changes 

in aggregate revenue from sardines. 

The Gini coefficient was stable from 2002-2007, averaging 0.62 and ranging from 0.58 in 2002 

to 0.65 in 2005 (Figure 39). The Gini coefficient dropped to 0.49 in 2008, but increased to 0.58 

in 2009. From 2009 to 2011, the Gini coefficient averaged 0.57, which was 8% below the 2002-

2007 average. The lower Gini coefficient from 2009 to 2011 means that sardine revenue was 

more evenly distributed among active vessels during those years as compared to the 2002-2007 

average. However, in 2012 the Gini coefficient increased to 0.64, which is similar to that of the 

2002-2007 average.

170.54

150.28

158.27 156.11

134.16

117.10

181.25

198.67

191.18

207.87 205.34

0.00

50.00

100.00

150.00

200.00

250.00

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Price ($ per metric ton)

Year
53

Figure 37. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per vessel participating in the West Coast 

Sardine Fishery.

Figure 38. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per trip in the West Coast Sardine Fishery.

168,625

118,774

158,869

143,593 139,997

157,519 161,258

121,158 124,161

112,990

208,258

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue per vessel ($)

Year

4,293

3,870

4,265

4,683 4,504

4,153

6,067

6,495

6,064

7,868

9,221

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

9,000

10,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue per trip ($)

Year
54

Figure 39. The Gini Coefficient for vessels earning revenue in the West Coast Sardine Fishery.

d. Synopses of recent trends – West Coast Sardines 

Based on recent trends in revenue (Figure 35), average price (Figure 36), inflation-adjusted 

revenue per vessel (Figure 37) and inflation-adjusted revenue per trip (Figure 38), the Sardine 

Fishery appears to be stable. However, the number of trips taken by participating fishermen has 

declined in recent years (Figure 34), shrinking from a high of 3,849 in 2002 to a series low of 

1,235 trips in 2011 before bouncing back up to 2,236 trips in 2012.The fishery has operated 

much closer to the harvest guidelines since 2008 than it did over the preceding six years (Figure 

31), reflecting recent assessements of sardine stock levels which warranted lower harvest 

guidelines compared to preceding years.

e. Landings – West Coast Squid

Market squid landings were 72,900 metric tons in 2002, then dropped to 45,100 metric tons in 

2003 (Figure 40). In 2004 – 2008, they ranged from a high of 55,800 metric tons in 2005 to a 

low of 38,100 metric tons in 2008. From 2009 to 2011, squid landings in metric tons increased 

dramatically to 93,100 in 2009, increased further to 130,900 in 2010, then decreased to 121,600

in 2011 and to 97,600 in 2012. 

0.58

0.63 0.61

0.65 0.63 0.63

0.49

0.58 0.59

0.54

0.64

0.00

0.10

0.20

0.30

0.40

0.50

0.60

0.70

0.80

0.90

1.00

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Gini coefficient

Year

s
55

Figure 40. Landings in the West Coast Squid Fishery.

f. Effort – West Coast Squid

From 2002 to 2006, the number of vessels participating in the squid fishery ranged from 127 in 

2005 to 150 in 2003 (Figure 41). The number of active vessels dropped to 109 in 2007, and fell

slightly lower in 2008 and 2009, to 105 and 107, respectively. More recently, the number has 

been increasing, from 120 in 2010 to 136 vessels in 2012.

As was the case for the sardine fishery, the squid fishery is primarily a day fishery, meaning that 

the number of trips and days absent are equivalent metrics. For this reason, only the number of 

trips is reported here. The number of trips taken by vessels that were active in the commercial 

squid fishery exceeded 3,000 in both 2002 and 2003 (Figure 42). The number of squid fishery 

trips was on a declining trend from 2004 to 2008, from 2,661 in 2004 to 2,101 in 2008, 

corresponding with a similar declining trend in landings. However, as for landings, the number of 

trips increased dramatically in 2009 to 4,157 and again in both 2010 and 2011 to 4,324 and 

4,724 trips, respectively. More recently, the number of trips went down to 4,293 during 2012.

The squid season was not subject to a closure in any year. Thus, while squid are not necessarily 

landed year-round, there were no limitations on when squid could have been landed over an 

entire calendar year.

72,880 

45,068 

40,116 

55,755 

49,186 49,475 

38,101 

93,107 

130,864 

121,557 

97,644 

 -

 20,000

 40,000

 60,000

 80,000

 100,000

 120,000

 140,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Landings (metric tons)

Year
56

Figure 41. Number of active vessels participating in the West Coast Squid Fishery.

Figure 42. Number of trips taken by those participating in the West Coast Squid Fishery.

144

150

143

127

142

109 105 107

120

130

136

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Number of vessels

Year

3,242 3,199

2,661

2,973

2,225

2,403

2,101

4,157

4,324

4,725

4,293

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Number of trips

Year
57

g. Revenue – West Coast Squid

Catch of species other than squid in the squid fishery is very low so all performance indicators 

based on revenue are reported for gross sales from squid alone. Inflation-adjusted revenue 

(adjusted by the GDP deflator indexed for 2010) from the commercial squid fishery was about 

$22 million in 2002 (Figure 43). Squid revenue fluctuated without a trend from 2003 to 2008,

averaging about $29 million and ranging from a high of $35 million in 2005 to a low of $22

million in 2004. Just as landings increased in 2009 so, too, did squid revenue, jumping from $27

million in 2008 to $58 million in 2009. Revenue reached a time-series high of $71 million in 2010 

before declining in both 2011 and 2012 to $65 million and $62 million, respectively.

The average price of squid was $298.14 per metric ton in 2002 (Figure 44). That was the timeseries low, 42-56% of the average price in any other year, and accounted for 2002 also being 

the time-series low in aggregate revenue, even though squid landings were higher that year than 

in any other year prior to 2009. From 2003 to 2008, the average price of squid fluctuated 

without trend, averaging $624 per metric ton and ranging from a low of $560.52 in 2004 to a 

time-series high of $708.44 in 2008. In 2009-2011, the average price for squid declined each 

year from $618.26 per metric ton in 2009 to $537.07 in 2011; it then increased to $631.42 in 

2012.

Figure 43. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) in the West Coast Squid Fishery

$21.7

$29.6

$22.5

$34.6

$28.8 $30.3

$27.0

$57.6

$71.2

$65.3

$61.7

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue (millions of $)

Year
58

Figure 44. Average price per metric ton (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) in the West Coast Squid 

Fishery

Revenue per vessel participating in the commercial squid fishery was $150,800 in 2002 (Figure 

45). Although revenue per vessel increased and decreased in alternating years during 2002-

2008, it also trended upward at an average annual rate of 14%. This upward trend was largely 

due to the general decline in the number of vessels participating in the commercial squid fishery

(Figure 41). Thus, while aggregate revenues did not exhibit any particular trend in 2002-2008, 

the declining number of vessels over these years produced increasing revenue per vessel. 

Compared to 2008, revenue per vessel more than doubled in 2009, from $257,000 to $538,000. 

Revenue per vessel increased again in 2010, to $593,000 in 2010 before declining in 2011 and 

2012, to $506,100 and $453,300, respectively. Note that, compared to 2010, the lower revenue 

per vessel in 2011 and 2012 was primarily due to the lower aggregate revenue in these two 

years (Figure 43), but was exacerbated by the increase in participating vessels from 120 in 

2010, to 130 in 2011, and to 136 in 2012 (Figure 41).

298.14

657.30

560.52

621.05

585.20

611.53

708.44

618.26

543.77 537.07

631.42

0.00

100.00

200.00

300.00

400.00

500.00

600.00

700.00

800.00

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Price ($ per metric ton)

Year
59

Figure 45. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per vessel participating in the West Coast 

Squid Fishery.

Average revenue per trip taken in the commercial squid fishery was $6,702 in 2002 (Figure 46). 

Revenue per trip generally increased until 2006 and then stabilized at about $13,000 through 

2008. Trip revenue then rose, peaked in 2010 ($16,457), and then dropped to between $13,000

and $14,000 in 2011 and 2012.

The distribution of squid revenue among vessels participating in the West Coast Squid Fishery 

became less evenly distributed in 2002-2004, shown by a rise in the Gini coefficient from 0.67 to 

a time-series maximum of 0.74 (Figure 47). Since 2004, the Gini coefficient was trending 

downward to 0.55 in both 2009 and 2010. This means that the distribution of squid revenue 

among vessels participating in the West Coast Squid Fishery was becoming more even. Since 

2009, the Gini coefficient increased slightly (5%) to 0.58 in 2011 and increased again to 0.63 in 

2012. This means that the share of fishery revenue among active vessels is becoming less even, 

although levels of concentration are still below that of the 2002 to 2007 average.

150,894

197,487

157,243

272,652

202,702

277,571

257,069

537,987

593,003

502,193

453,344

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

700,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue per vessel ($)

Year
60

Figure 46. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per trip in the West Coast Squid Fishery.

Figure 47. The Gini Coefficient for those vessels earning revenue in the West Coast Squid 

Fishery.

6,702

9,260

8,450

11,647

12,936 12,591 12,847

13,848

16,457

13,817

14,362

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue per trip ($)

Year

0.67 0.67

0.72

0.66

0.69

0.66 0.64

0.55 0.55

0.58

0.63

0.00

0.10

0.20

0.30

0.40

0.50

0.60

0.70

0.80

0.90

1.00

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Gini coefficient

Year
61

h. Synopsis of recent trends 

The West Coast Squid Fishery exhibited a pattern of decline during the first half of the study 

period (2002-2008) in terms of landings (Figure 40), number of active vessels (Figure 41), and 

trips taken (Figure 42). This situation changed drastically with a substantial increase in numbers 

of landings, trips, and inflation-adjusted revenue over the remaining years of the study period. 

Interestingly, the number of active vessels trended up slightly after 2008 but not proportional to 

the increase in effort (Figure 42) or revenue (Figure 43). The large proportional increase in 

landings after 2008 was reflected in a relatively smaller proportional decrease in price over the 

period (Figure 44).
62

C. Highly Migratory Species (albacore and swordfish)

Highly migratory species are wide-ranging fish, caught by multi-national fleets beyond U.S. 

waters. Thus, their management generally requires international cooperation. As such, the 

United States participates in numerous international agreements with implications for highly 

migratory species management in the Pacific Ocean. Management of these species is further 

challenged due to the facts that their potential productivity ranges from very low to very high, 

and they are difficult to directly survey for abundance. Over the years 1981-1999, the most 

important highly migratory species in terms of ex-vessel revenue were albacore and swordfish, 

except for yellowfin and skipjack tunas in the early 1980’s. 

1. Fishery synopsis

a. Gear used 

In the U.S. West Coast-based fisheries, highly migratory species are harvested by five major 

commercial gear groups: surface hook and line, pelagic drift gillnet, pelagic longline, purse seine, 

and harpoon. These gears are employed in state waters, in the U.S. EEZ, and on the high seas.

The West Coast-based U.S. albacore fishery comprises vessels that predominately troll for 

albacore using jigs and, to a lesser extent, live bait. These gears, known as surface hook-andline gear, account for the majority of West Coast landings and ex-vessel revenues of albacore 

tuna. Juvenile albacore (2-5 years old) in the upper portions of the water column are caught with 

these surface hook-and-line gears, while adult albacore (6-12 years old) from deeper waters are 

caught using longline gear. Swordfish are principally harvested within the U.S. EEZ by drift 

gillnet and harpoon gear. In California, set lines are legal in open ocean waters but may not be 

used for swordfish. Oregon has provisions for developmental longline fisheries for swordfish more 

than 25 miles offshore.

b. Target/component species

National Standard 1 Guidelines state that if a stock is identified in more than one fishery, Fishery 

Management Councils should choose which Fishery Management Plan will serve as the primary 

management reference. Conservation measures in the Fishery Management Plan that is not the 

primary Fishery Management Plan should be consistent, to the extent practicable, with those 

established in the primary Fishery Management Plan. The Pacific Fishery Management Council 

and the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council coordinate to identify the primary Fishery 

Management Plans for Pacific stocks of the managed species. 

Highly-migratory species are defined by the Magnuson-Stevens Act as tunas, billfish (marlin, 

sailfish, and swordfish), and oceanic sharks. The Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management 

Plan includes provisions for tunas, billfish, and pelagic sharks. Tuna species include North Pacific 

albacore, yellowfin, bigeye, skipjack, and northern bluefin. The billfish category encompasses 

striped marlin and Pacific swordfish. Shark species include common thresher, shortfin mako, and 

blue sharks. Mahi-mahi (dolphinfish) are also managed under the Highly Migratory Species

Fishery Management Plan. Great white sharks, megamouth sharks, basking sharks, Pacific 

halibut, and all species of salmon (Pacific, pink, chinook, chum, coho, and sockeye) are 

designated as prohibited species within this fishery.
63

c. Market channels

Revenues earned from species under the Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan are 

primarily from albacore tuna (85%) and, to a lesser extent, swordfish (12%). The United States

annually takes less than 22% of the north Pacific albacore landed by all nations. The bulk of the 

U.S. catch is canned as white meat tuna at canneries in American Samoa and Puerto Rico. A 

small amount (up to 10%) of the albacore catch is sold directly to the public in the fresh fish 

market. In recent years, more fishermen are marketing their catches directly from their vessels 

to the public to increase their earnings from albacore landings. In order to meet U.S. demand, 

swordfish products come from both U.S. landings and foreign imports. Harpooned fish tend to 

receive higher market prices than swordfish harvested using drift gillnets because harpoon 

vessels targeting swordfish are a low-volume fishery and spend less time on the water, so their 

catch is often fresher than drift-gillnet-caught fish. 

2. Management Program

a. Current management controls

According to the National Standard 1 Guidelines established under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, an 

Acceptable Biological Catch and a related Annual Catch Limit must be set for stocks managed 

under a Fishery Management Plan. However, the guidelines include an exception to this 

requirement for stocks subject to management under an international agreement. The Pacific 

Fishery Management Council has determined that all of the managed stocks in the Highly 

Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan meet this criterion. Therefore, the Council does not 

normally set Acceptable Biological Catches and Annual Catch Limits for managed highly 

migratory species stocks. While no quotas exist for highly migratory species, harvest guidelines 

do exist. These guidelines are general objectives whose attainment does not necessarily require 

a regulatory response. Under the precautionary principle, the optimum yield for vulnerable 

species under the Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan was set at 75% of 

maximum sustainable yield. Several federal statutes also affect highly migratory species. These 

include the High Seas Fishing Compliance Act, the Tuna Conventions Act, the Marine Mammal 

Protection Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the Endangered Species Act. In addition, the 

Western Pacific Pelagics Fishery Management Plan manages several highly migratory species 

(mahi-mahi or dolphinfish, sailfish, swordfish, oceanic sharks, and tunas), as well as providing 

for the protection of certain marine mammals, sea turtles, and seabirds in the Western Pacific 

Region.

The Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan recognizes that, due to the widespread 

distribution of highly migratory species, unilateral action taken by the United States will likely 

provide little or no biological benefit to most of the stocks of interest. Therefore, concerted 

international efforts are required in order to achieve rebuilding goals, and species currently 

managed under the Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan fall under the purview of 

several international agreements. The United States is a member of the Inter-American Tropical 

Tuna Commission, which recommends management measures that must be approved by the 

Department of State before NOAA Fisheries begins the implementation process. Through the 

U.S.-Canadian Albacore Treaty, U.S. vessels are allowed to fish in Canadian waters and land in 

certain Canadian ports, and a reciprocal arrangement holds for Canadian vessels. The Fishery 

Management Plan may also provide a mechanism for implementing U.S. responsibilities under 

the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, the U.N. Agreement on the Conservation 
64

and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks under the Law of the 

Sea Treaty, the U.N. Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and 

Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas, and Treaty Indian Fishing Rights. 

Other international entities that make recommendations concerning species included in the 

Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan include the Standing Committee on Tuna and 

Billfish and the Interim Scientific Committee. Management Unit Species are managed with an aim

for consistency in both regional and international measures. Due to scientific uncertainty and 

challenges associated with international management, controls are designed to be precautionary 

and multidimensional in approach. 

b. Key changes from past management controls

Prior to 2004, highly migratory species were managed by the States of Washington, Oregon and 

California, although some federal laws also applied. The lack of a single federal Fishery 

Management Plan covering all U.S. vessels in the Pacific created a situation where U.S. vessels 

fishing on the high seas may have been subject to different regulations depending on where they 

began their trip or where they landed their catch. The inequities and management challenges 

that arose from this situation led to the creation of the Highly Migratory Species Fishery 

Management Plan. The Fishery Management Plan has been amended twice. Amendment 1, 

approved in 2007, addressed overfishing of bigeye tuna and reorganized the Plan into a more 

concise document. Amendment 2, approved in 2011, made provisions consistent with the revised

Magnuson-Stevens Act’s National Standard 1 Guidelines. 

3. Management Objectives

The Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan is intended to ensure conservation and 

promote the achievement of optimum yield of highly migratory species throughout their ranges, 

both within and beyond the U.S. EEZ, to the extent practicable. In addition to the National 

Standards established under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the objectives of the Highly Migratory 

Species Fishery Management Plan include: 

1) Promote and actively contribute to international efforts for the long-term conservation 

and sustainable use of highly migratory species fisheries that are utilized by West Coastbased fishers, while recognizing that these fishery resources contribute to the food 

supply, economy, and health of the nation.

2) Provide a long-term, stable supply of high-quality, locally caught fish to the public.

3) Minimize economic waste and adverse impacts on fishing communities to the extent 

practicable when adopting conservation and management measures.

4) Provide viable and diverse commercial fisheries and recreational fishing opportunity for 

highly migratory species based in ports in the area of the Pacific Council’s jurisdiction, 

and give due consideration to traditional participants in the fisheries. 

5) Implement harvest strategies that achieve optimum yield for long-term sustainable 

harvest levels.

6) Provide foundation of support for the State Department in cooperative international 

management of highly migratory species fisheries.

7) Promote inter-regional collaboration in management of fisheries for species that occur in 

the Pacific Council’s managed area and other Councils’ areas. 
65

8) Minimize inconsistencies among federal and state regulations for highly migratory 

species fisheries.

9) Minimize bycatch and avoid discard and implement measures to adequately account for 

total bycatch and discard mortalities.

10) Prevent overfishing and rebuild overfished stocks, working with international 

organizations as necessary.

11) Acquire biological information and develop a long-term research program.

12) Promote effective monitoring and enforcement.

13) Minimize gear conflicts.

14) Maintain, restore, or enhance the current quantity and productive capacity of habitats to 

increase fishery productivity for the benefit of the resource and commercial and 

recreational fisheries for highly migratory species.

15) Establish procedures to facilitate rapid implementation of future management actions, as 

necessary.

4. Recent Trends

a. Landings – West Coast Albacore 

Landings of albacore in the United States by U.S. and Canadian vessels were 9,999 metric tons 

in 2002 (Figure 48). Albacore landings then peaked in 2003 (16,611 metric tons), but declined in 

consecutive years to 14,524 metric tons in 2004, and 9,028 metric tons in 2005. Landings 

increased in 2006 (to 12,773 metric tons), but generally declinined in the following years, 

reaching 10,935 metric tons in 2011. The next year, 2012, saw an increase to 13,873 metric

tons as a result of a change in the management by which Canadian vessels were no longer 

allowed to operate in U.S. waters. This change affected nearly every 2012 performance indicator 

for this fishery.
66

Figure 48. Landings (metric tons) in the West Coast Albacore Fishery.

b. Effort – West Coast Albacore

There were 736 vessels participating in the West Coast Albacore Fishery in 2002 (Figure 49). The 

number of active vessels peaked the next year, at 888 vessels, then declined to 599 vessels by 

2005. With the exception of 2008, vessels participating in the albacore fishery in 2006-2011 

averaged 666, ranging between 687 vessels (2011) and 635 (2006). In 2012, active vessels 

increased in number by 24% (to 854 vessels) over the previous year. The albacore fishery was 

not subject to any regulatory closures duing 2002-2012, resulting in a year-round fishery in 

which vessels were free to operate 365 days a year throughout the entire time period.

9,999

16,611

14,524

9,028

12,773

11,500 11,134

12,270 11,824

10,935

13,873

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

16,000

18,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Landings (metric tons)

Year
67

Figure 49. Number of active vessels participating in the West Coast Albacore Fishery.

Over the period 2002-2011, the lowest annual number of trips in the West Coast Albacore 

Fishery was 1,932 trips in 2005, and the highest was 3,249 trips in 2003 (Figure 50). During 

2009-2011, the number of trips was relatively stable, averaging 2,664 trips. With the barring of 

Canadian vessels from the to harvest of albacore in U.S. waters, the number of trips reached a 

high of 3,383 trips in 2012.

736

888

780

599

635

679

523

680

651

687

854

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Number of vessels

Year
68

Figure 50. Number of trips taken in the West Coast Albacore Fishery.

The number of days at sea in the West Coast Albacore Fishery was substantially lower in 2002 

(4,638 days) and 2003 (4,281 days), compared to any year during 2004-2011 (Figure 51). Days 

at sea averaged 9,390 days in 2005-2008, but increased to 11,736 days in 2009 and was at 

least 10,700 days in both 2010 and 2011. Although the number of days spent fishing has 

increased, particularly in recent years, the average trip duration has been much more stable. 

Albacore trip duration ranged from a high of 5.1 days in 2005 to a low of 3.4 days in 2007, but 

closer to 4.2 – 4.4 days in most years. The expulsion of Canadian vessels in 2012 resulted in a 

large increase in total days spent fishing for albacore that year, to 34,242 days, nearly three 

times the previous time-series high of 11,736 days (2009). This also resulted in an average trip 

duration of just over 10 days, more than twice that of the 2005-2011 average of 4.3 days.

2,627

3,249

2,967

1,932

2,336

2,602

1,973

2,774

2,523

2,697

3,383

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Number of trips

Year
69

Figure 51. Total number of days at sea fishing in the West Coast Albacore Fishery.

c. Revenue – West Coast Albacore

Aggregate revenue in the West Coast Albacore Fishery comes almost exclusively from albacore,

with less than 1% of revenues from other species on albacore fishing trips. For this reason, this

discussion deals only with revenues received from the sale of albacore. Albacore revenue 

(inflation-adjusted using the GDP deflator indexed for 2010) was $14.2 million in 2002 (Figure 

52). Revenue increased in both 2003 and 2004, reaching $27.4 million, and were relatively 

stable at around $21 million during 2005-2007. Revenue ranged from $27.5 to $29.5 million 

during 2008-2010, before increasing to $43 million in 2011, and again to $45.6 million in 2012.

Average albacore price per metric ton was on an upwards trend from $1,693 in 2002 to $2,531in 

2005, before falling to about $1,900 in both 2006 and 2007 (Figure 53). Since 2008, average 

price has been above $2,200 per metric ton; it reached a time-series high of $3,858 in 2011.

The increase in albacore landings led to a 2012 decline in average price to $3,169.

4,638 4,281

6,155

9,823 9,972 8,948 8,817

11,736 10,767 10,907

34,242

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Days at sea

Year
70

Figure 52. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) in the West Coast Albacore Fishery.

Figure 53. Average price (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per metric ton earned in the West 

Coast Albacore Fishery.

14.2

24.4

27.4

20.8

23.7

21.5

28.9 27.5

29.5

43.0

45.6

 -

 5

 10

 15

 20

 25

 30

 35

 40

 45

 50

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue (millions of $)

Year

1,693 1,714

2,141

2,531

1,983 1,944

2,648

2,272

2,495

3,858

3,169

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Price ($ per metric ton)

Year
71

Inflation-adjusted albacore revenue per participating vessel rose from $23,004 in 2002 to 

$39,861 in 2004 (Figure 54). Revenue per vessel was stable until 2006, but fell to $32,918 in 

2007 before climbing to $56,374 in 2008. Subsequently, revenue per vessel declined to $40,995

in 2009 and then trended up again, to a time-series high of $61,408 in 2011. Revenue per vessel 

declined in 2012 to $51,472 due to the increase in participating vessels caused by a change in 

management policy, which stopped Canadian vessels from operating in U.S. waters.

Revenue per trip in the West Coast Albacore Fishery increased from $6,445 in 2002 to $10,749

in 2004, leveled off at around $11,500 from 2004 to 2006, then fell $8,590 in 2007 (Figure 55). 

Albacore revenue per trip was second highest in 2008, declined in 2009 but recovered to a timeseries high of $15,642 in 2011. Per-trip revenue declined in 2012 to $12,994. Trends in revenue 

per trip in this fishery were almost identical to those in revenue per vessel (Figure 54) because 

the average number of trips taken per active vessel changed very little over the years 2002-

2012, ranging between 3.2 and 4.1 trips. In contrast, the average number of days at sea per 

vessel was about 60% lower during 2002-2004 (about 6.4 days) compared to the average in 

2005-2011 (16.0). This difference in time at sea accounted for the higher revenue per day 

during 2002-2004 (an average of $5,117) compared to lower earnings in 2005-2011 ($2,813 per 

day; Figure 56). In 2012, the average number of days that each vessel fished jumped to 40 days

(Figure 51), accounting for the time-series low in revenue per day of $1,284 in that year.

Figure 54. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per vessel in the West Coast Albacore 

Fishery.

23,004

32,054

39,861 38,141 39,897

32,918

56,374

40,994

45,311

61,408

51,472

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue per vessel ($)

Year
72

Figure 55. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per trip in the West Coast Albacore Fishery.

Figure 56. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per day at sea in the West Coast Albacore 

Fishery.

6,445

8,761

10,479

11,825

10,845

8,590

14,943

10,049

11,691

15,642

12,994

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

16,000

18,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue per trip ($)

Year

3,651

6,649

5,051

2,326

2,541 2,498

3,344

2,375

2,740

3,868

1,284

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue per day ($)

Year
73

Albacore fishery revenues among vessels active in the West Coast Albacore Fishery have been 

somewhat concentrated among a portion of the fleet (Figure 57). This means that a

disproportionally larger share of albacore fishery revenues has been harvested by a smaller 

number of vessels. The Gini coefficient has been virtually constant throughout the entire timeseries, ranging between 0.71 and 0.74 from 2002 to 2012, indicating that the level of revenue 

concentration in the fishery has not changed over time.

Figure 57. The Gini coefficient for active vessels participating in the West Coast Albacore Fishery.

d. Synopsis of recent trends 

The West Coast Albacore Fishery has been the most economically important highly migratory 

species fishery on the West Coast in recent years. Since the mid-1990s, the fishery has been 

relatively stable with respect to levels of fishery participation and standard measures of 

economic performance. The Gini coefficient over the period was extremely stable, suggesting no 

major new development in the distribution of revenues among participants. Though the 

assessment in 2006 indicated a potential developing problem of overfishing, the most recent 

assessment indicated the stock was healthy, with no overfishing, suggesting no pressing need for 

additional management measures to limit mortality in the near-term. Aggregate revenue and 

revenue per vessel have trended up over the past ten years, likely reflecting an increase in the 

average price of albacore; however, revenues per day at sea dropped after the early years in the 

decade, calling into question whether the increase in per-vessel revenues translated into higher 

profitability.

0.73 0.71 0.72 0.73 0.71

0.74 0.72 0.71 0.71 0.72 0.74

0.00

0.10

0.20

0.30

0.40

0.50

0.60

0.70

0.80

0.90

1.00

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Gini coefficient

Year
74

e. Landings – West Coast Swordfish

Combined landings in the West Coast Swordfish Fishery using drift gillnet and harpoon gear 

totaled 1,725 metric tons in 2002 (Figure 58). Swordfish landings increased to 2,135 metric 

tons in 2003 then declined in consecutive years to a time-series low of 297 metric tons in 2005. 

Since 2005, swordfish landings have remained below 2002-2004 levels, ranging between 370 

metric tons in 2010 and 619 metric tons in 2011.

Figure 58. Landings in the West Coast Swordfish Fishery.

f. Effort – Swordfish

The drift gillnet fishery for swordfish is subject to limited entry, whereas the harpoon fishery is 

open access. For this reason, the annual total number of swordfish permits was estimated as the 

sum of limited entry gillnet permits, plus the number of harpoon vessels that fished. There were 

a total of 169 swordfish permits issued in 2002 (Figure 59). The number of permitted vessels 

declined through 2005, to 115, then remained virtually constant through 2009, but declined in 

2010-2012. As of 2014, a total of 104 permits were issued in 2010, 99 were issued in 2011, and 

only 87 were issued in 2012.

The number of active vessels includes all vessels that used gillnet gear or harpoon gear in any 

given year. This may result in some double counting since a small number of vessels may use 

both gillnet and harpoon gear in the same year. With this caveat in mind, the number of vessels 

participating in the West Coast Swordfish Fishery was highest in 2002 when 155 vessels landed 

swordfish on at least one occasion (Figure 60). The number of active vessels declined in 

consecutive years, to 73 in 2005, and although numbers increased to 92 in 2008, the fleet has 

since contracted to 41 in 2012, about one-quarter the size of the swordfish fleet in 2002.

1,725

2,135

1,186

297

542 550 531

409 370

619

403

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Landings (metric tons)

Year
75

Figure 59. Number of permits issued in the West Coast Swordfish Fishery.

Figure 60. Number of active vessels participating in the West Coast Swordfish Fishery.

169 174

164

115 112 114 116 111

104 99

87

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Number of permits

Year

155

149

127

73

78

87

92

87

73

60

41

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Number of vessels

Year
76

The annual number of trips taken in the West Coast Swordfish Fishery was estimated as the 

annual number of discrete occasions on which swordfish were landed using either drift gillnet or 

harpoon gear. The number of swordfish trips declined from 858 in 2002 to 694 trips in 2005 

(Figure 61). In 2006, the number of swordfish trips reached a time-series high of 902. However, 

following that year, the number of trips declined steadily at an average annual rate of almost 

13% to 445 trips in 2011 and 370 trips in 2012.

The regulatory season for the drift gillnet fishery opens in May and closes in January, for a total 

of 276 days. Although, fishing does not take place throughout the open season, the fishery has 

remained open for the entire length of the regulatory season in all years from 2002 to 2012. 

Figure 61. Number of trips taken in the West Coast Swordfish Fishery.

g. Revenue – West Coast Swordfish

Data on total revenue for swordfish trips, which has been adjusted by the GDP deflator indexed 

for 2010, includes revenue from both swordfish and species incidentally landed while fishing for 

swordfish. Revenue from species other than swordfish was less than 10% of total revenue from 

2002 to 2004, but was 10% or more in all other years (Figure 62). More recently (2008-2012), 

revenue from species other than swordfish was around 15% of aggregate revenue, but was as 

high as 26% in 2010. 

Revenues received from the sale of swordfish are a function of both landings and prices. The 

general trends in swordfish revenues largely follow those in swordfish landings (Figure 58),

where aggregate revenues fell from 2003 to 2005, rose in 2006 and 2007, then fell again 

858

821

758

694

902

814

775 765

601

445

370

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Number of trips

Year
77

through 2010 (Figure 62). In some years, change in swordfish revenue was offset by change in

price. For example, swordfish landings declined by 44% from 2003 to 2004, but swordfish 

revenues declined by 40% because average price increased by 8% (Figure 63). Similarly, while

landings increased by 80% from 2005 to 2006, prices declined by 29%, resulting in a net 

increase in swordfish revenue of 20%. These examples represent what would be expected as 

markets respond to changes in swordfish supply. However, average swordfish prices in the West 

Coast Swordfish Fishery were only weakly correlated with swordfish supplies as there were as 

many instances where prices increased with increased supply as there were instances where 

price increased with reduced supplies. In general, average swordfish prices were relatively 

constant during 2002-2004, averaging $4,446 per metric ton, followed by higher prices during 

2005-2007, before returning to around $4,500 in 2008 and 2009 (Figure 63). Over the most 

recent three years, average swordfish prices have averaged less than $2,500.

In 2002, combined aggregate revenue per vessel from all species averaged $51,003 of which 

$49,160 was from swordfish (Figure 64). Total revenue per vessel peaked in 2003 at $62,878, 

but then followed a declining trend reaching a time-series low of $16,942 in 2010, before 

increasing in both 2011 and 2012 to $23,911 and $29,217 per vessel, respectively. Combined 

revenue per trip followed a trend similar to that of revenue per vessel. Total revenue per trip was 

$9,214 in 2002, of which $8,881 was from swordfish and $333 was from species other than 

swordfish (Figure 65). Total revenue per trip peaked in 2003 at $11,410 but has declined ever 

since, from $7,512 in 2004 to a time-series low of $2,058 per trip in 2010, with the exception of 

a modest increase in 2007 to $5,060. Total revenue per trip increased somewhat in 2011 and 

2012, to about $3,230 in each year.

Figure 62. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) in the West Coast Swordfish Fishery.

7.62

9.16

5.49

2.48

3.22

3.65

2.52

1.79

0.92 1.21 1.01

0.29

0.21

0.20

0.27

0.35

0.47

0.44

0.31

0.32 0.22 0.19

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

8.0

9.0

10.0

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue (millions of $)

Year

Non-fishery

Fishery
78

Figure 63. Average prices (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) in the West Coast Swordfish Fishery.

Figure 64. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per vessel in the West Coast Swordfish 

Fishery.

4,417 4,291

4,630

8,364

5,933

6,643

4,741

4,377

2,485

1,961

2,504

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

9,000

10,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Price ($ per metric ton)

Year

49,160

61,480

43,239

34,029

41,226 41,997

27,362

20,578

12,596

20,226

24,609

1,843

1,398

1,604

3,721

4,513

5,359

4,738

3,566

4,346

3,685

4,608

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue per vessel ($)

Year

Non-fishery

Fishery
79

Figure 65. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per trip in the West Coast Swordfish 

Fishery.

The relative distribution of swordfish revenue among vessels in the West Coast Swordfish Fishery 

was nearly constant from 2002 to 2008, based on the Gini coefficient, which ranged from 0.61 to 

0.64 (Figure 66). Since 2008, the Gini coefficient has been increasing and reached 0.72 in 2012, 

indicating that revenue has become more concentrated among a portion of the fleet over more 

more recent years. 

8,881

11,158

7,245

3,579 3,565

4,489

3,248

2,340

1,530

2,727 2,727

333

254

269

391 390

573

562

406

528

497 511

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue per trip ($)

Year

Non-fishery

Fishery
80

Figure 66. The Gini coefficient for active vessels participating in the West Coast Swordfish 

Fishery.

h. Synopsis of recent trends 

The West Coast Swordfish Fishery has undergone a pattern of decline since the 1990s in terms of 

revenues, landings, participation, and fishing effort. This partially reflects a series of regulations 

that have resulted in dwindling participation in the drift gillnet and longline swordfish fisheries,

which provided the largest share of swordfish landings and revenues during the 1990s. A large 

closure of the drift gillnet fishery north of Pt. Conception, to protect endangered sea turtles, is 

correlated with a pattern of decline in that portion of the swordfish fishery, while longline gear 

was not authorized for use on the West Coast when the Highly Migratory Species Fishery 

Management Plan went into effect in 2004. Though the harpoon portion is an open access 

fishery, inherent technical limitations and low catch rates have prevented it from substituting for 

the decrease in West Coast drift gillnet and longline landings. Despite the declining pattern of 

participation, effort, landings, and revenues, the portion of the West Coast drift gillnet swordfish 

fishery that remains in operation continues to serve as an economically profitable local supply of 

fresh swordfish to the West Coast.

0.63 0.64 0.64 0.62 0.61 0.61 0.61

0.66 0.68

0.73 0.72

0.00

0.10

0.20

0.30

0.40

0.50

0.60

0.70

0.80

0.90

1.00

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Gini coefficient

Year
81

Pacific Islands Region

The archipelagos of Hawaiʻi, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands (Guam and the

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) contain a variety of marine environments

ranging from the deep ocean to coral reef to estuarine. As isolated landmasses, their fishing 

histories are accordingly rich. Federal fisheries in the Pacific Islands Region are managed by 

NOAA Fisheries and the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council under five Fishery 

Ecosystem Plans, which cover the American Samoa, Hawaiʻi, and Mariana archipelagos; Pacific 

Remote Island Areas, and Pacific Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region. The Council 

replaced the former Fishery Management Plans for Bottomfish, Pelagics, Coral Reef Ecosystems, 

Crustaceans, and Precious Corals with these five Fishery Ecosystem Plans in 2010. Fishery 

Ecosystem Plans manage marine resources from a place-based rather than a species-based

perspective. In addition to management oversight provided by the Western Pacific Fishery 

Management Council and NOAA Fisheries, highly migratory species such as bigeye and yellowfin 

tunas are also managed internationally by two Regional Fishery Management Organizations. The 

Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) oversees pelagic fisheries 

management in the Pacific Islands Region and NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region implements 

regulations developed through the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) to manage

pelagic fisheries in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Species under the purview of these Regional 

Fishery Management Organizations migrate across international boundaries; thus, effective

management requires coordination between countries with fishing interests in the Pacific Ocean. 

Performance indicators for three main fisheries (the Hawaiʻi-based Longline; the Main Hawaiian 

Islands Bottomfish; and the American Samoa Longline Fisheries) for the most recent fishing year 

are reported in Table 6. Detailed trend data for each of these fisheries is reported below, 

following a synopsis of each fishery is provided including gears used, target and component 

species, products sold, current management approach, and key changes in the fishery. 
82

Table 6. Pacific Islands Regions Fishery Performance Measures for 2012.

Catch and Landings Hawaiʻi-based Longline 

Fishery

Hawaiʻi Deep 7a

Bottomfish Fisherya

American Samoab

Longline Whole Pounds Whole Pounds Whole Poundsb

Catch limits in management areasc 1,102,300; 8,295,995d 325,000 N/A

Landings in Management areac 650,357; 8,055,608

d N/A N/A

Aggregate landingsb 23,915,012e 240,044 7,269,292

Utilization 59%, 97%d 74% N/A

Quota exceeded No No N/A

Effort

Number of permits (number) 164 458 60

Active Vessels (number) 129 465 24

Trips (number) 1,443 2,988 285

Days at sea (days) 32,772 3,189 5,476

Season length (days) 366 365 365

Revenue ($)f

Fishery species revenue $86,223,888 $1,580,814 $8,086,426

Other species revenue $0 $841,225 $0

Total Revenue $86,223,888 $2,422,040 $8,086,426

Average fishery species price (per pound) $3.61 $6.59 $1.11

Fishery species revenue per vessel $668,402 $3,400 $336,934

Other species revenue per vessel $0 $1,809 $0

Total revenue per vessel $668,402 $5,209 $336,934

Fishery species revenue per trip $59,753 $529 $28,373

Other species revenue per trip $0 $282 $0

Total revenue per trip $59,753 $811 $28,373

Fishery species revenue per day at sea $2,631 $496 $1,477

Other species revenue per day at sea $0 $264 $0

Total revenue per day at sea $2,631 $760 $1,477

Other

Limited entry Y N Y

Gini coefficient 0.21 0.72 0.29

a

The main species in the Hawaiʻi bottomfish fishery are the Deep 7: opakapaka, onaga, hapu‘upu‘u, ehu, kalekale, gindai and lehi

b Data are not yet available for 2012, therefore these are 2011 values.

c Weights are given in whole pounds.

d Catch limits, landings, and utilization are presented separately for bigeye tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, respectively.

e Aggregate landings of all pelagic species landed by the Hawaiʻi-based Longline Fishery.

f All revenue data have been adjusted by the GDP deflator indexed for 2010.

N/A = not applicable or not available
83

A. Hawaiʻi-based Longline Fishery

The longline fishery has been active for many decades in Hawaiʻi. The fishery expanded in the 

late 1980s due to the rapid development of local and U.S. mainland markets for fresh tuna and 

swordfish. In 1991, NOAA Fisheries implemented a moratorium on the issuance of new permits 

to provide a period of stability for the fishery while the Western Pacific Fishery Management 

Council and NOAA Fisheries developed a comprehensive, long-term management regime. Three 

years later, in 1994, a limited entry program was put in place that addressed potential and 

actual impacts of the expanded fishery on target stocks, and effects of longline catches on other 

fisheries. The longline fishery continues to be a limited entry fishery with a maximum of 164 

permits allowed. Hawaiʻi’s pelagic fisheries also include troll, handline, and aku boat (pole and 

line) fisheries. Of all fisheries managed under the Pacific Pelagic Fishery Ecosystem Plan, the 

Hawaiʻi-based Longline Fishery is the largest, accounting for the majority of Hawaiʻi’s commercial 

pelagic landings (about 78% in 2010). 

1. Fishery synopsis

a. Gear used 

The Hawaiʻi longline fleet has historically operated in two distinct modes based on gear 

deployment. Vessels that target deep-swimming bigeye tuna use deep-set longlines, whereas 

vessels targeting swordfish employ shallow-set longlines. On deep-set longlines, 20-30 hooks are 

typically deployed between floats and lines are allowed to sag in order to reach depths of up to

1,300 feet. On shallow-set longlines, only a few (approximately 4-6) hooks are deployed 

between floats, and the line is kept relatively taut so that it stays within the upper 100-300 feet 

of the water column. Whereas tuna are mainly targeted during the day, swordfish tend to be 

targeted at night with the use of luminescent light sticks.

b. Target/component species 

Tunas, billfishes, sharks, and other pelagic fishes are identified by the Western Pacific Fishery 

Management Council as Pelagic Management Unit Species (PMUS). The four main tunas in 

Hawaiʻi’s longline fishery are bigeye, yellowfin, skipjack and albacore. The majority of billfish 

landings (mostly swordfish) are from the shallow-set longline fishery that targets swordfish. 

Other billfish (including, blue marlin, and striped marlin) are caught and landed by both the 

deep-set and shallow-set fisheries. Other Pelagic Management Unit Species include mahimahi

(dolphinfish), opah (moonfish), ono (wahoo), and monchong (pomfret).

c. Market channels

The Hawaiʻi Longline Fishery does not freeze its catch, almost all of which is sold fresh (ice 

chilled) at the United Fishing Agency auction in Honolulu. This auction is a major supplier to the

sashimi market in Hawaiʻi. Wholesale buyers at the auction purchase longline-caught fish directly

from the auction, some of which may also be shipped to the U.S. Mainland, Japan and Canada. It 

is believed that very little of the longline catch is directly marketed to retailers or exported by 

fishermen. Tuna are purchased by both local and export wholesalers, whereas swordfish are

mainly sold to export wholesalers and the catch is shipped by air to the U.S. Mainland, Japan,

and Canada.
84

Longline-caught tunas are generally thought to be of higher quality than tunas caught using 

other types of gear because they are hooked in deeper, colder waters and do not struggle as 

much as those caught by vessels employing troll or handline gear. In addition, they may also 

have been chilled longer and more thoroughly than fish landed by handline and troll fishermen;

and longline vessels tend to catch larger tunas than do trolling vessels. For these reasons, 

longline-caught tunas usually receive a premium price. 

2. Management Program

a. Current management controls

The Hawaiʻi-based longline fishery is managed by NOAA Fisheries and the Western Pacific Fishery 

Management Council, in coordination with the objectives of two primary Regional Fishery 

Management Organizations: the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission and the InterAmerican Tropical Tuna Commission. The fleet fishes both inside and outside the U.S. Exclusive 

Economic Zone (EEZ), including the management areas of both Regional Fishery Management 

Organizations. Therefore, management is guided by the Highly Migratory Species Fishery 

Management Plan and the Pacific Pelagic Fishery Ecosystem Plan. Vessels fishing in the Hawaiʻibased longline fishery must possess a Limited Entry Permit in order to fish. 

While highly migratory species are exempted by the domestic Annual Catch Limit rules required 

by the Magnuson-Stevens Act, bigeye tuna was the first species in the Hawaiʻi Longline Fishery 

to be subject to international management measures addressing overfishing of bigeye tuna in

the Pacific Ocean. Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) catch limits were implemented by the IATTC in

2004, while Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) catch limits were implemented by the

Commission in 2009. Additionally, year-round and seasonal longline fishing are prohibited in 

several areas surrounding the Main Hawaiian Islands. Regulations are in place to limit the 

incidental bycatch of threatened and endangered species, including sharks, seabirds, sea turtles,

and other marine mammals, specifically false killer whales. If the maximum annual limit on 

leatherback and loggerhead turtle interactions for the shallow-set longline fishery is reached, the 

fishery closes for the remainder of the calendar year. Observer requirements are mandated for 

both the deep-set and shallow-set fisheries; however, coverage requirements vary. A Vessel 

Monitoring System and observers on every shallow-set longline trip are in place to promote 

compliance with regulatory measures. One hundred percent observer coverage is not a 

mandated requirement for tuna (deep-set) trips, but the coverage rate is at least 20%. In 

addition, patrol vessels conduct routine inspections throughout the Pacific Ocean. The Western 

and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission also maintains a list of vessels that have engaged in 

illegal, unregulated, or unreported activities. Members of the Western and Central Pacific 

Fisheries Commission are prohibited from engaging in fishing activities or other related 

transactions with vessels on this list.

b. Key changes from past management controls 

The Hawaiʻi shallow-set longline fishery for swordfish was closed by NOAA Fisheries in April 2001 

due to a U.S. Federal Court order to reduce incidental sea turtle bycatch. After incorporating 

measures to reduce sea turtle bycatch, the fishery reopened in April 2004. These measures 

included annual limits on sea turtle bycatch of leatherback and loggerhead sea turtles, an annual 
85

fishing effort cap, the use of circle hooks (designed to reduce mortality in non-target species), 

the use of mackerel as bait instead of squid (to reduce the likelihood of attracting turtles), and 

100% observer coverage on shallow-setting longline trips. Some turtle conservation measures 

were also adopted by the Hawaiʻi-based Deep-set Tuna Fishery. These measures led to a 90% 

reduction of bycatch of loggerhead and leatherback sea turtles by the Hawaiʻi shallow-set 

longline fishery. The Hawaiʻi shallow-set longline fishery experienced early closures in 2006 and 

again in 2011 upon reaching the limit on interaction with sea turtles. Bycatch rates of seabirds, 

such as several albatross species, have also been reduced in the Hawaiʻi longline fishery in recent 

years as a result of several seabird conservation measures. These include dyeing bait blue and 

attaching weights to baited hooks to make them sink faster. The False Killer Whale Take 

Reduction Plan for reducing mortality and serious injury to false killer whales around the Main 

Hawaiian Islands, as required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, took effect on December 31, 

2012, with gear requirements taking effect February 27, 2013. 

Regular stock assessments of Pacific bigeye tuna are conducted by the Inter-American Tropical 

Tuna Commission and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission. Following 

assessments which determined that bigeye tuna were subject to overfishing in the Pacific Ocean, 

NOAA Fisheries established catch limits for U.S.-based longline fleets in the Eastern Pacific Ocean 

(EPO) in 2004 and Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) bigeye stocks in 2009. The limit in 

the WCPO reduced potential harvests of bigeye tuna to the amount landed by U.S. vessels in 

2004, less 10%. The longline fishery operating in the WCPO closed early in 2009 and 2010 

because the fleet was expected to reach the limit on bigeye tuna catch limit there. Landings of 

bigeye from the EPO have varied considerably. However, the bigeye tuna quota in the EPO has 

not yet restricted the Hawaiʻi-based Longline fishery, because the quota only applies to vessels 

longer than 24 meters. In the Hawaiʻi longline fleet, about 84% of the vessels are smaller than 

the 24 meters.

3. Management Objectives

The bottomfish fishery occurs in two separate geographical areas: the inhabited Main Hawaiian 

Islands with their surrounding reefs and offshore banks, and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. 

NOAA Fisheries closed the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands bottomfish fishery in accordance with 

Presidential Proclamation 8031, which established the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National 

Monument. Therefore, bottomfish fishing managed under the Hawaiʻi Fishery Ecosystem Plan

occurs only in the Main Hawaiian Islands, where bottomfish habitat lies about half in state 

waters, and half in federal waters. Bottomfish fishing grounds within federal waters include 

Middle Bank, most of Penguin Bank and approximately 45 nautical miles of 100-fathom-deep 

bottomfish habitat in the Maui-Lanai-Molokai complex. 

In addition to the National Standards established in the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the Pacific 

Pelagic Fishery Ecosystem Plan for the Western Pacific Region upholds the standards established 

in the original Pelagic Fishery Management Plan. The specific objectives in the Pacific Pelagic 

Fishery Ecosystem Plan include:

1) To maintain biologically diverse and productive marine ecosystems and foster the
86

long-term sustainable use of marine resources in an ecologically and culturally sensitive 

manner through the use of a science-based ecosystem approach to resource 

management.

2) To provide flexible and adaptive management systems that can rapidly address new

scientific information and changes in environmental conditions or human use patterns.

3) To improve public and government awareness and understanding of the marine

environment in order to reduce unsustainable human impacts and foster support for 

responsible stewardship.

4) To encourage and provide for the sustained and substantive participation of local

communities in the exploration, development, conservation, and management of marine

resources.

5) To minimize fishery bycatch and waste to the extent practicable.

6) To manage and co-manage protected species, protected habitats, and protected areas.

7) To promote the safety of human life at sea.

8) To encourage and support appropriate compliance and enforcement with all applicable 

local and federal fishery regulations.

9) To increase collaboration with domestic and foreign regional fishery management and 

other governmental and nongovernmental organizations, communities, and the public at

large to successfully manage marine ecosystems.

10) To improve the quantity and quality of available information to support marine ecosystem 

management.

4. Recent Trends

a. Catch limits and landings

Landings of all species in the Hawaiʻi-based Longline Fishery were 17.2 million pounds in 2002, 

then steadily increased until 2005, when they totaled 21.3 million pounds (Figure 67). The next 

year, 2006, landings dropped by 6% to 20 million pounds. Landings increased for the following 

two years, reaching 23.9 million pounds in 2008, then decreased (by 17%) to 19.8 million 

pounds in 2009. Landings then trended upward to 24.2 million pounds in 2011, but dropped 1%

in 2012 to 23.9 million pounds (Figure 67).

Since bigeye tuna catch limits differ in the EPO and WCPO, indicators for catch limits, landings 

and utilization are presented separately for the two regions. There were no bigeye catch limits in 

place for 2002, 2003, or 2008 in the EPO; catch limits were 330,693 pounds per year from 2004 

to 2006 and 1.1 million pounds in 2007. From 2009 to 2011, the catch limit was 1.1 million 

pounds for all U.S. vessels greater than 24 meters. There were no catch limits for bigeye tuna in 

the WCPO for 2002 – 2008; the catch limit for U.S. longline vessels was 8.3 million pounds for 

2009–2012 (Figure 68). 

Landings of bigeye tuna in the EPO ranged between 291,000 pounds in 2002 and 1.1 million 

pounds in 2005. During 2002–2011, EPO bigeye landings were the lowest in 2006 at 108,000 

pounds. In 2012, landings were 650,000 pounds, a 123% increase over 2002 landings. WCPO 

bigeye landings in 2002 were approximately 10 million pounds in 2002 and fell to 8 million 

pounds the following year, about a 20% decrease. For the next three years, WCPO bigeye tuna 

landings averaged 9.6 million pounds and rose to 11.9 million pounds in 2007. Since then, 

bigeye tuna landings have decreased at an average annual rate of 10% to 7.9 million pounds in 
87

2011, but in 2012 landings increased by 2% to 8.1 million pounds, when compared to 2011 

landings (Figure 68).

In 2005, bigeye tuna landings by the Hawaiʻi longline fleet in the EPO totaled 1.1 million pounds, 

which exceeded (by 230%) the EPO catch limit of 330,693 pounds for this fleet (Figure 69). EPO 

bigeye tuna catch limits were not exceeded in any other year during 2004–2012, with quota 

utilization of 33-90%. Utilization of the available bigeye tuna quota for the fleet in the WCPO has 

been near 100% for 2009–2012, but catch limits were not exceeded for any year during that 

period (Figure 69). 

Figure 67. Landings of all species in the Hawaiʻi-based Longline Fishery.

17 18 18 

21 

20 

23 

24 

20 

22 

24 24 

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Landings (millions of pounds)

Year
88

Figure 68. Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) and Western Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) bigeye catch 

limits and landings in the Hawaiʻi-based Longline Fishery. Note that there was no catch limit in 

the EPO for 2002, 2003, and 2008 and no catch limit in the WCPO for 2002 – 2008.

Figure 69. Utilization of the available bigeye tuna quota by the Hawaiʻi-based Longline Fishery in 

the Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) and Western Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO). Note that there was 

no catch limit in the EPO for 2002, 2003, and 2008 and no catch limit in the WCPO for 2002 –

2008.

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Weight (millions of pounds)

Year

EPO - Catch limits WCPO - Catch limits

EPO - Landings WCPO - Landings

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Utilization of quota (%)

Year

Eastern Pacific Ocean

Western Central Pacific Ocean
89

b. Effort 

The Hawaiʻi Longline Fishery is a limited entry fishery with a maximum of 164 permits. No new 

permits can be issued because this is a limited entry fishery, but permits are renewable and 

freely transferable. The number of active vessels fluctuated between 102 and 129 during 2002-

2012 (Figure 70). In 2002 and 2003, respectively, there were 102 and 110 active vessels in the 

fishery; since then, the number of active vessels has averaged 127. 

Figure 70. Number of active vessels participating in the Hawaiʻi-based Longline Fishery.

Season length for the Hawaiʻi-based Longline Fishery differs for the shallow-set swordfish and 

deep-set tuna components. Some segments of the longline fishery were closed in certain months 

in some years, usually due to interactions with prohibited species (Figure 71).

As noted above, the Hawaiʻi shallow-set longline fishery for swordfish was closed from April 2001 

to April 2004, to reduce incidental sea turtle bycatch. This fishery also closed early in both 2006 

and 2011 when the sea turtle bycatch limit was met. The closure on March 20, 2006, resulted 

from reaching the annual interaction limit of 17 loggerhead turtles; the closure on November 18, 

2011, resulted from reaching the limit of 16 leatherback sea turtles.

In 2009, the Hawaiʻi deep-set longline fishery for bigeye tuna in the WCPO was closed from

December 29, 2009 to January 1, 2010 because the bigeye tuna catch limit in the WCPO was 

expected to be reached by December 29, 2009. Therefore, the season length for this fishery was 

362 days in 2009. In 2010, the Hawaiʻi deep-set longline fishery for bigeye tuna in the WCPO 

was closed from November 22, 2010 to January 1, 2011 because the bigeye tuna catch limit in 

the WCPO was expected to be reached by November 22, 2010. Therefore, the season length for 

102

110

126 125 127 129 129 127 124

129 129

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Numbner of vessels

Year
90

Hawaiʻi deep-set longline fishery for bigeye tuna in WCPO was 325 days in 2010. The Hawaiʻi

deep-set longline fishery was open year-round in all other years between 2002 and 2012.

On average, between 2002 and 2012, there were 1,387 trips taken annually in the Hawaiʻi

Longline Fishery (Figure 72). Between 2002 and 2005, the number of trips taken in this fishery 

increased at an average annual rate of 10%, peaking at 1,552 trips in 2005. Numbers of trips 

generally trended down from 2006 to 2010, reaching a low of 1,321 trips in 2010, then increased 

by 5% in 2011, and then by 4% in 2012 to 1,443 trips. 

The Hawaiʻi longline fleet spent 22,648 days at sea fishing in 2002 (Figure 73). Days at sea in 

the fishery increased by an annual average of 6% between 2002 and 2006, peaked at 32,225 in 

2008, and remained stable in 2009-2011, averaging 31,500 days annually during this time 

period. In 2012, the number of days at sea increased by 4% relative to 2011, to 32,800 days.

Figure 71. Season length for the deep-set tuna fishery and shallow-set swordfish fishery 

components of the Hawaiʻi-based Longline Fishery.

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Season length (days)

Year

Deep-set

Shallow-set
91

Figure 72. Number of trips taken in the Hawaiʻi-based Longline Fishery, including both shallowset and deep-set fisheries.

Figure 73. Number of days at sea fishing in the Hawaiʻi-based Longline Fishery.

1,169

1,227

1,351

1,552

1,445

1,515 1,474

1,365 1,321

1,390

1,443

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1,800

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Number of trips

Year

22,648 23,082

25,772

28,929 28,466

32,187 32,225 31,675 31,540 31,425

32,772

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Days at sea

Year

1,552
92

c. Revenue

Figures for revenue presented here are inflation-adjusted, using the GDP deflator indexed for 

2010. In the longline fishery, revenue was $46 million in 2002 (Figure 74), following which it 

increased over the next three years to $61 million in 2005. Revenue decreased in 2006 by 7%, 

relative 20 2005, to %57 million, but then showed an increasing trend until 2008, when it 

reached $71 million. The following year revenue decreased to $55 million, a 22% decrease from 

2008. Since 2010, revenue has been increasing at an average annual rate of 16%, reaching a 

time-series high of $86 million in 2012, which was an 86% increase over 2002 revenue. 

Average prices for all longline caught species were $2.68 in 2002 and 2003 (Figure 75). Prices 

fluctuated between $2.75 and $2.97 in the period 2004-2009, and then increased for the next 

two years to a high of $3.61 in 2012, a 35% gain over 2002. 

Figure 74. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) in the Hawaiʻi-based Longline Fishery.

46.3 47.3

50.5

61.1

56.9

64.3

70.8

54.9

66.7

76.1

86.2

 -

 10

 20

 30

 40

 50

 60

 70

 80

 90

 100

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue (millions of $)

Year
93

Figure 75. Average price (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per pound for species landed in the 

Hawaiʻi-based Longline Fishery.

Revenue per vessel Hawaiʻi-based Longline Fishery was $454,000 in 2002 (Figure 76). The 

average revenue per vessel was $500,000 for 2002–2012, ranging from $401,000 in 2004 to

$668,000 in 2012, the time-series maximum. Revenue per trip followed a similar trend as 

revenue per vessel (Figure 77). Revenue per trip was almost $45,000 in 2002–2012, ranging 

from a low of $37,000 in 2004 to a high of $60,000 in 2012. 

Revenue per day at sea was about $2,040 in 2002 and 2003 (Figure 78). Revenue per day at sea 

declined in the next year by 4%. In 2005, revenue per day at sea increased by 8% to $2,112, 

but declined again for the next two years (5% and 0.1%, respectively) when compared to the 

previous year. In 2008, revenue per day at sea increased by 10% to $2,200, but declined (by 

21%) in 2009 to $1,735. For the next three years, revenue per day at sea increased by 22%, 

14% and 9%, respectively, when compared to the previous year. In 2012, revenue per day at 

sea was $2,630, which was the highest between 2002 and 2012 and a 29% increase over the 

2002 value.

2.68 2.68 2.75

2.87 2.85 2.83

2.97

2.77

3.08 3.14

3.61

0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Price ($ per pound)

Year
94

Figure 76. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per vessel participating in the Hawaiʻi-based

Longline Fishery.

Figure 77. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per individual trip for the Hawaiʻi-based

Longline Fishery.

454

430

401

489

448

498

549

433

538

590

668

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue per vessel (thousands of $)

Year

39,584 38,537 37,358

39,373 39,372

42,421

48,055

40,255

50,513

54,722

59,753

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue per trip ($)

Year
95

Figure 78. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per day at sea in the Hawaiʻi-based Longline

Fishery. 

The Gini coefficient was 0.22 in 2002 and increased to 0.27 in 2003. Since then, it fluctuated 

between 0.21 and 0.26, indicating that the distribution of revenue among vessels was stable 

during these years (Figure 79). 

2,043 2,049

1,958

2,112

1,999 1,997

2,198

1,735

2,116

2,420

2,631

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue per day ($)

Year
96

Figure 79. The Gini Coefficient for active vessels in the Hawaiʻi-based Longline Fishery.

d. Synopsis of recent trends 

In Section 113 of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriate Act of 2012, Congress 

had directed NOAA Fisheries to attribute bigeye tuna caught by the Hawaiʻi longline fishery to the 

U.S. Pacific Territories, subject to agreements that meet certain conditions. Congress had also 

directed the Council and NOAA Fisheries to develop and approve an appropriate amendment to 

the Fishery Ecosystem Plan which would make permanent the provisions of Section 113. On 

January 8, 2014, NOAA Fisheries published a proposed rule to establish a management 

framework for specifying annual catch and fishing effort limits and accountability measures for 

pelagic fisheries in the U.S. Pacific Territories, including authorization for the government of each 

territory to allocate a portion of its catch or fishing effort limit to a U.S. fishing vessel or vessels 

through a specified agreement. The proposed rule would also establish a limit for 2014 of 2,000 

metric tons of longline-caught bigeye tuna for each territory, of which up to 1,000 metric tons 

may be allocated to U.S. longline fishing vessels though agreements subject to review and 

approval by the Council and NOAA Fisheries. If this action becomes final, then this would 

potentially allow the Hawaiʻi Longline Fishery, as a whole, to catch an additional 6.6 million 

pounds (3,000 mt) of bigeye tuna, although NOAA Fisheries anticipates the fishery will catch no 

more than about 2.2 million pounds (1,000 mt) annually, based on the previous three years’ 

catches under Section 113 agreements. Those vessels that do not enter into agreements with 

territories might not directly benefit, but as any vessel or vessels sign on, the likelihood that the 

remaining fishery participants will not reach the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries 

Commission longline quota will increase. Any catch or fishing effort limits established by the 

Council and NOAA Fisheries would be consistent with applicable laws and agreements, and 

ensure sustainable harvest of fish stocks.

0.22

0.27 0.26

0.21

0.24 0.22 0.22 0.23 0.23 0.23 0.21

0.00

0.10

0.20

0.30

0.40

0.50

0.60

0.70

0.80

0.90

1.00

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Gini Coefficient

Year
97

Bigeye tuna in the Western and Central Pacific has been experiencing overfishing for about two 

decades. A recent agreement approved by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission 

Working Group is to reduce the Hawaiʻi Longline Fishery’s catch limit for bigeye tuna by 10%, in 

two increments in 2015 and 2017. This will reduce the catch limit for bigeye tuna available to 

Hawaiʻi-based Longline Fishery to about 7.4 million pounds in 2017. The goal of these catch 

reductions together with management of other countries’ catches under the Western and Central 

Pacific Fisheries Commission agreement, is to eliminate overfishing on bigeye tuna by 2017. The 

proposed rule, discussed above, does not impede this objective.
98

B. Hawaiʻi Deep 7 Bottomfish Fishery

The bottomfish fishery occurs in two separate geographical areas: the inhabited Main Hawaiian 

Islands with their surrounding reefs and offshore banks, and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

NOAA Fisheries closed the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands bottomfish fishery in accordance with 

Presidential Proclamation 8031, which established the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National 

Monument. Therefore, bottomfish fishing managed under the Hawaiʻi FEP only occurs in the Main 

Hawaiian Islands, where about half of bottomfish habitat lies in State waters and other half lies 

in federal waters. Bottomfish fishing grounds within federal waters include Middle Bank, most of 

Penguin Bank and approximately 45 nautical miles of 100-fathom-deep bottomfish habitat in the 

Maui-Lanai-Molokai complex. 

1. Fishery synopsis

a. Gear used 

Historically, bottomfish were targeted by Hawaiians using deep handlines from canoes. The 

modern fishery employs mechanical line haulers and other technology including fish finders and 

GPS navigational aids. Handlines are attached to terminal tackle with 6-8 circle hooks and a 

weight at the end. Federal requirements prohibit the use of bottom trawls, bottom gillnets, 

explosives, and poisons to target bottomfish.

b. Target/component species

The Hawaiʻi bottomfish fishery targets snappers and groupers inhabiting reef slopes, seamounts,

and banks at depths of up to 1,200 feet. The most desired species are known as the Deep 7: 

opakapaka (pink snapper), onaga (longtail snapper), hapu‘upu‘u (sea bass), ehu (squirrelfish 

snapper), kalekale (snapper), gindai (snapper), and lehi (silver jaw jobfish). Other important 

federally managed species are uku (gray jobfish, green jobfish), butaguchi (thick lipped trevally), 

kahala (amberjack), black ulua (black jack), white ulua (giant trevally), yellowtail kalekale

(yellowtail snapper), and ta‘ape (blue stripe snapper).

c. Market channels

In Hawaiʻi, bottomfish are an important part of the local culture and feature prominently in many 

traditional practices. Despite these traditions, locally-caught bottomfish make up a decreasing 

portion of the market. Declining local landings since the mid-1980s have been supplemented by 

increased foreign imports of species such as snapper and grouper from Tonga, New Zealand, 

Indonesia, Fiji, and Australia. In 2008, these imports accounted for more than 50% of the 

Hawaiʻi bottomfish market; however, in recent years the proportion of imports has decreased. 

The amount of imported fish is likely the combined result of many factors, including continued 

high levels of consumer demand and the closure of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands 

commercial bottomfish fishery. The creation of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National 

Monument in June 2006 closed the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands to commercial fishing, 

particularly affecting the bottomfish fishery. Initially, the creation of the National Monument 

included a date to phase out the Northwestern bottomfish fishery by June 15, 2011. NOAA 

Fisheries implemented a voluntary buyback program to compensate eligible permit holders in the 
99

bottomfish fishery (as well as the crustacean fishery), and the fishery was closed in November 

2009. 

2. Management Program

a. Current management controls

The harvest of bottomfish within the EEZ around the Main Hawaiian islands is jointly managed by 

NOAA Fisheries, the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, and the Hawaiʻi Division of 

Aquatic Resources (HDAR) through the Hawaiian Archipelago Fishery Ecosystem Plan. 

Bottomfishing in the Main Hawaiian Islands is regulated through separate Annual Catch Limits for

the Deep 7 Bottomfish and Non-Deep 7 Bottomfish Fisheries, as well as non-commercial permits

(not limited entry), reporting (per state regulations), and a non-commercial bag limit of five 

Deep 7 bottomfish per trip. Gear restrictions prohibit the use of bottom trawls, bottom set 

gillnets, explosives, and poisons. The fishing season runs year-round, beginning September 1 

and ending August 31; however, commercial and non-commercial fishing are closed in both 

federal and state waters if the commercial Annual Catch Limit is reached.

b. Key changes from past management controls 

The Fishery Management Plan for Bottomfish and Seamount Groundfish Fisheries in the Western 

Pacific Region was implemented by NOAA Fisheries and the Western Pacific Fishery Management 

Council in 1986. In 2010, bottomfish species in the EEZaround the Main Hawaiian Islands 

became managed under the Hawaiian Archipelago Fishery Ecosystem Plan. While no new 

regulations were made at that time, the Hawaiian Archipelago Fishery Ecosystem Plan 

incorporated provisions from the Bottomfish and Seamount Groundfish Fishery Management Plan 

and represents a shift away from species-based management and towards place-based 

management. The Hawaiian Archipelago Fishery Ecosystem Plan has been amended three times 

since its implementation in 2010. The first amendment established eligibility requirements and 

procedures for reviewing and approving community development plans, to promote participation 

of island communities in fisheries that they traditionally depend on, but may not have the 

capability to support continued and substantial participation. The second amendment established 

the Hancock Seamounts Ecosystem Management Area and continued the moratorium on the 

harvest of certain stocks that are in the process of rebuilding. In line with the National Standards 

established under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the third amendment incorporated a mechanism 

for specifying Annual Catch Limits. 

3. Management Objectives

The Hawaiʻi Fishery Ecosystem Plan for the Western Pacific upholds the National Standards

established under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, as well as the management objectives established 

in the original Bottomfish Fishery Management Plan. The objectives of the Hawaiʻi Fishery 

Ecosystem Plan are: 

1) To maintain biologically diverse and productive marine ecosystems and foster the longterm sustainable use of marine resources in an ecologically and culturally sensitive 

manner through the use of a science-based ecosystem approach to resource 

management.
100

2) To provide flexible and adaptive management systems that can rapidly address new 

scientific information and changes in environmental conditions or human use patterns.

3) To improve public and government awareness and understanding of the marine 

environment in order to reduce sustainable human impacts and foster support for 

responsible stewardship.

4) To encourage and provide for the sustained and substantive participation of local 

communities in the exploration, development, conservation, and management of marine 

resources.

5) To minimize fishery bycatch and waste to the extent practicable

6) To manage and co-manage protected species, protected habitats, and protected areas.

7) To promote the safety of human life at sea.

8) To encourage and support appropriate compliance and enforcement with all applicable 

local and federal fishery regulations.

9) To increase collaboration with domestic and foreign regional fishery management and 

other governmental and non-governmental organizations, communities, and the public at 

large to successfully manage marine ecosystems.

10) To improve the quantity and quality of available information to support marine ecosystem 

management.

4. Recent Trends

The Deep 7 bottomfish species comprise onaga, ehu, opakapaka, kalekale, gindai, hapu‘upu‘u, 

and lehi. Non-Deep 7 bottomfish are uku (gray jobfish, green jobfish), butaguchi (thick lipped 

trevally), kahala (amberjack), black ulua (black jack), white ulua (giant trevally), yellowtail 

kalekale (yellowtail snapper), ta’ape (blue stripe snapper). Only Deep 7 species are defined as 

“in fishery” for purposes of data presentation in this analysis.

The Deep 7 operated under a calendar year up to and including 2006. In 2007, the Council 

recommended immediate closure of the fishery for bottomfish stocks that were experiencing 

overfishing. The fishery was under emergency closure from May 15 through September 30, 

2007, and reopened on October 1, 2007. During the closure period, the Council, NOAA Fisheries, 

and the state of HawaiʻI developed long-term management measures to prevent overfising of 

HawaiʻI’s bottomfish resources for the future. When the fishery reopened in 2007, it was under 

quota/Annual Catch Limit management, and fishing years were no longer identical with the 

calendar year. The fishing year in 2007 – 2008 was October 1, 2007 to April 15, 2008. The 

fishing year for 2008–2009 was November 15, 2008 to July 5, 2009; in 2009-2010, it was 

September 1, 2009 to April 19, 2010; in 2010–2011 it was September 1, 2010 to March 11, 

2011; in 2011–2012 was September 1, 2011 to August 31, 2012; and in 2012–2013 it was 

September 1, 2012 to August 31, 2013.

a. Quota

Quotas were not used to manage the Deep 7 bottomfish fishery until the 2007-2008 fishing year. 

During 2007-2012, the average quota for the Deep 7 Fishery was 263,000 pounds, the largest 

being 325,000 pounds in 2011 and the smallest quota was 32,500 pounds in 20012 (Figure 80). 

Aggregate landings include the total estimated whole weight of Deep 7 bottomfish landed on 

trips attributed to the Main Hawaiian Islands Commercial Deep 7 Bottomfish Fishery. The data do 

not include unreported charter or unreported recreationally caught Deep 7 species. Landings of 
101

Deep 7 species averaged 225,000 pounds over this time period, with the largest landings 

(265,000 pounds) in 2010. Landings of the Deep 7 exceeded the quota in 2007, 2008 and 2010,

by 9%, 6%, and 4%, respectively. In 2009, 2011, and 2012, quota utilization was 81%, 71%,

and 74%, respectively (Figure 81).

Figure 80. Quota and landings in the Deep 7 Bottomfish Fishery. Note that the fishery operated 

under a calendar year for 2002 – 2006 and a fishing year for 2007 – 2012.

178.0

241.0 254.1 254.1

325.0

32.5

225.0 231.6 228.3

208.0

187.0 193.2

255.9

204.8

265.1

231.4

240.0

0.0

50.0

100.0

150.0

200.0

250.0

300.0

350.0

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Weight (thousands of pounds)

Year

Quota

Landings
102

Figure 81. Utilization of the available quota in the Deep 7 Bottomfish Fishery. Note that the 

fishery operated under a calendar year for 2002 – 2006 and a fishing year for 2007 – 2012.

b. Effort 

The number of permits issued was equivalent to the number of fishers who reported landing 

Deep 7 species while possessing a Hawaiʻi Commercial Marine License (CML). The number of 

permits in the Deep 7 Fishery averaged 408 permits in 2002-2012, with the most (479) issued in 

2011 and the fewest (332) in 2006 (Figure 82). There were 551 active vessels participating in 

the Deep 7 Fishery in 2002; the number decreased by 16% to 465 vessels in 2012 (Figure 83).

In 2008, the numbers of both permits and vessels increased 36%, mainly due to the new federal 

requirement to obtain a recreational bottomfish fishing permit, implemented in 2008. A bag limit 

(five Deep 7 bottomfish) applies to all recreational permit holders, while no bag limits apply to 

fishermen with a State of Hawaiʻi CML. This may have caused a surge of CML applications in 

2008.

There is a wide range of effort and fisher motivation among participants in the Main Hawaiian 

Islands Bottomfish Fishery. At one end of the spectrum, a small number of highliners account for 

a large proportion of total effort and catch, as well as a large proportion of revenue, because 

they sell the majority of their catch. At the other end of the spectrum, a large number of 

participants fish only occasionally, selling some or none of their catch, thus accounting for a 

relatively small proportion of revenue. As a result, the figures for average revenue per vessel 

capture neither the nuances of fishery participation nor the diversity of the fleet; it is important 

to bear this in mind while interpreting the following figures. 

Previous to the 2007 season, the Deep 7 Bottomfish Fishery was open year-round (Figure 84). 

Between 2007 and 2010, the fishery experienced closures, with the shortest fishing season being 

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Utilization of quota (%)

Year
103

192 days in 2010. In 2011 and 2012, the fishery was again open year-round since total landings 

did not reach the Annual Catch Limit. 

Despite the fact that fishing was open for the fewest days in 2010, fishermen took the most trips 

(3,434 trips) in that year (Figure 85). On average, during 2002–2012, there were 2,868 trips 

taken in the Deep 7 Fishery. The season with the fewest number of days at sea (2,345) was

2007 and the most (3,434) was 2010 (Figure 86).

Figure 82. Number of permits in the Deep 7 Bottomfish Fishery. Note that the fishery operated 

under a calendar year for 2002 – 2006 and a fishing year for 2007 – 2012.

384

348 358 373

332

351

476

459 471 479

458

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Number of permits

Year
104

Figure 83. Number of active vessels participating in the Deep 7 Bottomfish Fishery. Note that the 

fishery operated under a calendar year for 2002 – 2006 and a fishing year for 2007 – 2012.

Figure 84. Number of days that fishing is allowed in the Deep 7 Bottomfish Fishery. Note that the 

fishery operated under a calendar year for 2002 – 2006 and a fishing year for 2007 – 2012.

551

360

392 401

376

359

490 479 489 491

465

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Number of vessels

Year

365 365 366 365 365

198

233 231

192

365 365

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Season length (days)

Year
105

Figure 85. Number of trips taken in the Deep 7 Bottomfish Fishery. Note that the fishery 

operated under a calendar year for 2002 – 2006 and a fishing year for 2007 – 2012.

Figure 86. Number of days at sea spent fishing in the Deep 7 Bottomfish Fishery. Note that the 

fishery operated under a calendar year for 2002 – 2006 and a fishing year for 2007 – 2012.

2,995

2,880

2,755

2,588

2,387 2,345

3,273

2,798

3,434

3,107

2,988

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Number of trips

Year

3,092 3,048

2,930

2,705

2,489 2,394

3,332

2,846

3,482

3,298

3,189

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Days at sea

Year
106

c. Revenue 

Revenue data reported here have been adjusted by the GDP deflator indexed for 2010. Revenue 

from Deep 7 species comprises the majority of the total revenue for vessels participating in the 

fishery (Figure 87). Total revenue averaged $1.8 million between 2002 and 2012; revenue for 

Deep 7 speies averaged $1.4 million and for non-Deep 7 species averaged $383,000. Total 

revenue was greatest in 2012 at $2.4 million; 2012 was also a peak year for Deep 7 revenue 

($1.6 million). Non-Deep 7 species revenue peaked at $841,000 in 2012. Total revenue was at 

its lowest in 2007 at $1.5 million; Deep 7 revenue dipped its lowest that year ($1.2 million),

while non-Deep 7 revenue was also the lowest ($115,000) in 2002.

Prices for onaga, ehu, opakapaka, kalekale, gindai, hapu‘upu‘u, and lehi have been as low as 

$5.77 and as high as $6.77, averaging $6.28 during 2002–2012 (Figure 88). Total revenue per 

active vessel averaged $4,000 over the time period (Figure 89). After a 67% increase in total 

revenue per vessel in 2003 due to a large decrease in number of active vessels from the 

previous year (Figure 83), total revenue per vessel has decreased or remained unchanged each 

year relative to the previous year, except in 2010 (Figure 89). Revenue increased in 2010 

despite the fact that the number of active vessels also increased in that year (albeit slightly). 

Annual decreases were as little as 2% (2011) and as high as 7% (2008). Overall, total revenue 

per vessel increased by 92% from $2,700 in 2002 to $5,200 in 2012.

Figure 87. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) from Deep 7 Bottomfish landings and nonDeep 7 Bottomfish landings. Note that the fishery operated under a calendar year for 2002 –

2006 and a fishing year for 2007 – 2012.

1.4 1.4 1.5 1.4

1.2 1.2

1.5

1.3

1.6 1.4

1.6

0.11

0.21 0.26 0.28

0.27 0.23

0.37

0.57

0.49

0.58

0.84

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue (millions of $)

Year

Non-fishery

Fishery
107

Figure 88. Average prices (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) paid for species caught in the Deep 7 

Bottomfish Fishery. Note that the fishery operated under a calendar year for 2002 – 2006 and a 

fishing year for 2007 – 2012.

6.12 6.15

6.37

6.77 6.64

6.36

5.77

6.15

5.91

6.20

6.59

0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.00

7.00

8.00

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Price ($ per pound)

Year
108

Figure 89. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per vessel for Deep 7 Bottomfish species 

and non-Deep 7 Bottomfish species. Note that the fishery operated under a calendar year for 

2002 – 2006 and a fishing year for 2007 – 2012.

Total revenue per trip increased by 63% between 2002 and 2012, from $500 to $810 (Figure 

90). From 2002 to 2005, total revenue per trip increased at an average annual rate of 9%; from 

2006 to 2008, per trip revenue was on average 4% lower than the previous year; in 2009, total 

revenue per trip was up 16% to $653. Total revenue per trip was down by 8% in 2010 over the 

previous year, and up by 25% in 2012 to $811. The same trends were seen in total revenue per 

day at sea (Figure 91). Total revenue per day at sea increased at an average annual rate of 9% 

during 2002–2005 and then decreased for the following three years at 4% per year on average. 

Between 2009 and 2012, total revenue per day at sea fluctuated from $590 to $760. 

Revenue in the Hawaiʻi Deep 7 Bottomfish Fishery was calculated for Commercial Marine License 

(CML) holders rather than for vessels, because fishermen report revenue by CML, not by vessel. 

Multiple fishermen can fish on the same vessel, but they report their revenue separately, by 

individual CML. The Gini coefficient was calculated to measure the equality of revenue 

distribution among CML holders in the fishery (Figure 92). The Gini coefficient stood was 0.78 in 

2002, decreased to 0.69 in 2007, and since then has fluctuated between 0.71 and 0.76. The high 

Gini coefficient in this fishery, indicating that revenue is unequally distributed, is due to the fact 

that participants show a large range of effort levels, i.e., some participants whose motivations 

are primarily commercial participate at a high level of effort, while other participants are 

primarily non-commercial, although they hold a CML, and participate at a lower level of effort. 

2,501

3,955 3,712 3,509 3,301 3,424

3,011

2,629

3,203

2,924

3,400

208

577

655

686

721 629

764 1,185

995 1,191

1,809

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue per vessel ($)

Year

Non-fishery

Fishery
109

Figure 90. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per trip for Deep 7 Bottomfish species and 

non-Deep 7 Bottomfish species. Note that the fishery operated under a calendar year for 2002 –

2006 and a fishing year for 2007 – 2012.

460 494 528 544 520 524

451 450 456 462

529

38

72

93

106

114 96

114

203

142

188

282

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue per trip ($)

Year

Non-fishery

Fishery
110

Figure 91. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per day at sea spent fishing for Deep 7 

Bottomfish species and non-Deep 7 Bottomfish species. Note that the fishery operated under a 

calendar year for 2002 – 2006 and a fishing year for 2007 – 2012.

446 467 497 520 499 513

443 443 450 435

496

37

68

88

102

109 94

112

199

140 177

264

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue per day ($)

Year

Non-fishery

Fishery
111

Figure 92. The Gini coefficient for Commercial Marine License holders in the Deep 7 Bottomfish 

Fishery.

d. Synopsis of recent trends 

Enhancements in reporting and monitoring systems have improved the accuracy of landing data. 

Since September 2011, fishers who land Deep 7 bottomfish are required to submit a trip report 

to the State of Hawaiʻi within five days of the trip end date. An online reporting system for these 

submissions was implemented in September 2012. In addition, starting in September 2012, 

fishers who submit a late trip report receive a Civil Resource Violation notice with a $15 fine. 

Between September and December 2012, about 77% of trip reports were submitted on time; 

among the trips reported, 72% were filed online.

0.78 0.79 0.77 0.77 0.78

0.69

0.73 0.72 0.71

0.76

0.72

0.00

0.10

0.20

0.30

0.40

0.50

0.60

0.70

0.80

0.90

1.00

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Gini coefficient

Year
112

C. American Samoa Longline

The American Samoa archipelago is located in the South Pacific Ocean and consists of five 

islands and two atolls—Tutuila, Aunuu, Rose, Swains, and the Manua group of Tau, Olosega and 

Ofu. The total landmass of about 77 square miles is surrounded by just over 150,000 square 

miles of U.S. EEZ waters. Fishing has been a part of the way of life in the archipelago since the 

islands were first settled some 3,500 years ago. In 1995, small-scale longline fishing for albacore 

began in American Samoa following training initiated by the Secretariat of the Pacific 

Community. For the first several years, the small-scale domestic longline fishery mostly 

comprised American Samoans operating locally-built, twin-hulled vessels under 50 feet in length. 

In 2000, the American Samoa longline fleet began to expand rapidly with the influx of larger, 

conventionally manufactured monohull vessels, comprising some longliners from American 

Samoa as well as a large number of other U.S.-based longliners. Commercial ventures are now 

dominated by large-scale vessels targeting mainly albacore. The American Samoa longline fleet 

mostly fishes in the U.S. EEZ around American Samoa, since it is adjacent to the EEZ of other 

countries. 

1. Fishery synopsis

a. Gear used 

Longlines are set by spooling the mainline off the reel and retrieved by hydraulically cranking or 

by hand cranking (in smaller vessels) the mainline back onto the reel; lines are usually set in the 

early morning and haulback generally occurs mid-day to afternoon. Trips in this fishery are 

typically one day long on small vessels and range from a few weeks to a couple of months on 

larger vessels. Large vessels are outfitted with modern electronic equipment for navigation, 

communications, and fish finding. Small vessels ice their catch onboard and then freeze it on 

shore, while larger vessels freeze their albacore catch onboard.

b. Target/component species 

The American Samoa longline fishery primarily targets albacore tuna, although smaller amounts 

of skipjack, yellowfin, and bigeye tunas, and other pelagic species are also caught. Albacore tuna 

are a highly migratory species, swimming long distances throughout the ocean and are found in 

tropical and warm temperate waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. Temperature is a 

major factor in determining where Pacific albacore live. While the migration patterns of North 

Pacific albacore tuna are relatively well understood, less is known about the life cycle movements 

of South Pacific albacore. Albacore tuna initially grow rapidly but then grow more slowly with 

age; albacore tuna can grow up to almost 80 pounds and about 47 inches in length. 

c. Market channels

Currently, the pelagic fisheries of American Samoa are based on supplying frozen albacore and 

small amounts of other pelagic fish directly to the commercial cannery located in the capital city 

of Pago Pago. Canned albacore tuna is then marketed worldwide. Some of the catch is also sold 

to stores, restaurants, and local residents, or is consumed at home or donated for cultural 

functions.
113

2. Management Program

a. Current management controls

The American Samoa longline fishery is managed by NOAA Fisheries and the Western Pacific 

Fishery Management Council through the Pacific Pelagic Fishery Ecosystem Plan and the Western 

and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission of which the United States is a member. All American 

Samoa longline vessel owners and operators are required to obtain a limited entry permit and to 

submit logbooks containing detailed data on each of their sets and the resulting catch. Albacore 

tuna is not subject to an Annual Catch Limit under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, since it is subject 

to international fishery agreements in which the United States participates. The Western and 

Central Pacific Fisheries Commission has not established a quota for South Pacific albacore, 

although there are conservation and management measures that apply to the stock. Additional 

management tools include gear and vessel identification, vessel monitoring systems, area 

restrictions, at-sea observer coverage, sea turtle and seabird mitigation measures, and other 

bycatch mitigation measures.

b. Key changes from past management controls

In 2000, the longline fishery in American Samoa began to expand rapidly with the influx of large 

(greater than 50 feet) conventional mono-hull vessels. As a result, regulations implemented in 

2002 prohibited any large vessels, including longline and purse seine, from fishing within 50 

nautical miles around the islands of American Samoa. Further rapid expansion of longline fishing 

effort within the EEZ waters around American Samoa prompted the Western Pacific Fishery 

Management Council to develop a limited entry system for the American Samoa pelagic longline 

fishery in 2005. In line with an increasing understanding of the importance of ecosystem-based 

management, in 2009, the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council replaced the speciesbased approach to fishery management, previously implemented through the Pelagics Fishery 

Management Plan, with an ecosystem-based approach implemented through the Pacific Pelagic 

Fishery Ecosystem Plan. In 2011, NOAA Fisheries implemented amendments to the Fishery 

Ecosystem Plan that modified the longline gear configuration to reduce sea turtle bycatch, as well 

as a mechanism for establishing Annual Catch Limits, in line with the National Standards 

established in the Magnuson-Stevens Act. 

3. Management Objectives

In addition to the National Standards established under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the Western 

Pacific Fishery Management Council has identified ten objectives governing the management of 

species under the Pacific Pelagic Fishery Ecosystem Plan according to an ecosystem-based 

management approach. They are the following:

1) To maintain biologically diverse and productive marine ecosystems and foster the longterm sustainable use of marine resources in an ecologically and culturally sensitive 

manner through the use of a science-based ecosystem approach to resource 

management. 

2) To provide flexible and adaptive management systems that can rapidly address new 

scientific information and changes in environmental conditions or human use patterns. 
114

3) To improve public and government awareness and understanding of the marine 

environment in order to reduce unsustainable human impacts and foster support for 

responsible stewardship. 

4) To encourage and provide for the sustained and substantive participation of local 

communities in the exploration, development, conservation, and management of marine 

resources. 

5) To minimize fishery bycatch and waste to the extent practicable. 

6) To manage and co-manage protected species, protected habitats, and protected areas. 

7) To promote the safety of human life at sea. 

8) To encourage and support appropriate compliance and enforcement with all applicable 

local and federal fishery regulations. 

9) To increase collaboration with domestic and foreign regional fishery management and 

other governmental and nongovernmental organizations, communities, and the public at 

large to successfully manage marine ecosystems. 

10) To improve the quantity and quality of available information to support marine ecosystem 

management.

4. Recent Trends

a. Quota

As mentioned above, no U.S. Annual Catch Limit or international quota is currently set for the 

American Samoa Longline Fishery. In 2002, the American Samoa Longline Fishery landed nearly

16 million pounds of fish. Landings were 7.4 million pounds (53% lower) in 2011 (Figure 93).

Figure 93. Landings of all species in the American Samoa Longline Fishery.

15.6

11.5

9.0

8.8

11.9

14.2

9.5

10.6 10.8

7.4

0

5

10

15

20

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Landings (millions of pounds)

Year
115

b. Effort 

The American Samoa Longline Fishery is a limited entry fishery with a maximum of 60 permits. 

Under the limited access program, NOAA Fisheries issued a total of 60 initial longline limited 

entry permits starting from 2005 to qualified candidates (Figure 94). The American Samoa 

Longline limited entry permit is required for any vessel using longline gear to fish for pelagic 

species within the EEZ around American Samoa or anyone landing or transshipping pelagic 

species in American Samoa that were caught within the EEZ around American Samoa. The 

American Samoa Longline permit may be used to fish with longline gear in the EEZ around 

Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Pacific Remote Island Areas; 

and to land catches in those areas. The American Samoa longline permit may not be used to fish 

with longline gear in the EEZ around Hawaiʻi. 

Permits are issued by vessel size class, and permit holders are restricted to using vessels within 

their size class or smaller. Permits may be transferred, but the person receiving the transfer 

must meet specific requirements, depending on their vessel size class. The permits expire three 

years from issuance, and renewal requires meeting minimum landings requirements and 

possessing a current Protected Species Workshop certificate. 

In 2002, there were 60 active vessels in the American Samoa Longline Fishery; this number 

declined steadily, dropping to 24 active vessels in 2011, a 60% decline (Figure 95). The average 

annual decline in active vessels was 17% for 2002 – 2006. The sharp decline during this period 

was mainly due to the decline in the number of small vessels (those 50 feet or less in length). 

Between 2007 and 2011, the average annual decline in the number of active vessels slowed to 

3%. The American Samoa Longline Fishery was open to fishing year-round from 2002 to 2011.

On average, fishermen took 543 trips per year in the American Samoa Longline Fishery in 2002–

2011 (Figure 96). In 2002, there were 1,587 trips. The number of trips decreased by 42% from 

2002 to 2003, and then declined at an average annual rate of 28% from 2003 to 2006. As with 

the number of active vessels, the downward trend in the number of trips in 2002–2006 was 

mainly due to declining numbers of small vessels—in general, smaller vessels make more, 

shorter trips compared to larger vessels. In 2007, the decline in annual trips reversed: trips 

increased by 16% to 402 trips that year, compared to 2006. However, annual trips declined for 

the next two years. In 2009, fishermen took 213 trips, a 28% decline from the previous year, 

and the lowest number of trips in this fishery over this time period. In 2011, there were 297 

tripsfishery. On average, fishermen spent 7,128 days at sea fishing in the American Samoa 

Longline Fishery each year during this time period (Figure 97). Days at sea in a given year 

ranged from 9,199 (in 2002) toas low 5,865 (in 2011).
116

Figure 94. Number of permits issued in the American Samoa Longline Fishery.

Figure 95. Number of active vessels in the American Samoa Longline Fishery.

N/A N/A N/A

60 60 60 60 60 60 60

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010

Number of permits

60

52

40

36

28 29 29

26 26

24

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Number of vessels

Year
117

Figure 96. Number of trips taken in the American Samoa Longline Fishery.

Figure 97. Number of days at sea spent fishing in the American Samoa Longline Fishery.

1,587

924

629

452

347

402

296

213

286 297

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1,800

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Number of trips

Year

9,199

8,299

6,768

6,123

6,853

8,164

6,952 6,699

6,364

5,865

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

9,000

10,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Number of days

Year
118

c. Revenue

Revenue in the American Samoa Longline Fishery, adjusted for inflation using the GDP deflator 

indexed for 2010, was $16 million in 2002 (Figure 98). Revenue decreased for the following 

three years by 23%, 18%, and 6%, respectively, relative to the previous year. In 2006, revenue 

increased by 28% over the previous year, to $12 million. Revenue increased again in 2007 by 

17%, relative to the previous year. Since 2007, revenue has declined at an average annual rate 

of 11%. Price in the American Samoa Longline Fishery averaged $1.04 during 2002–2011 (Figure 

99). Annual price was prices (per pound)as high as $1.13 (2004) and as low as $0.97 per pound 

(2010).

Revenue per vessel was $268,000 in 2002 and declined by 11% to $238,000 the following year 

(Figure 100). The year 2003 saw a times-series low in revenue per vessel most likely because 

more vessels actively fished that year than in most other years (Figure 100). After 2003, 

revenue per vessel steadily increased to a time-series high of $492,000 in 2007, a year in which 

there were relatively few active vessels. Revenue per vessel increased over the period 2007–

2010, but decreased again in 2011 to $347,000. 

Figure 98. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) in the American Samoa Longline Fishery.

16.1

12.4

10.2

9.6

12.2

14.3

9.4

10.4 10.5

8.3

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Revenue (millions of $)

Year
119

Figure 99. Average prices (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) paid for species caught in the 

American Samoa Longline Fishery.

Figure 100. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per vessel in the American Samoa Longline 

Fishery. 

1.03

1.07

1.13

1.09

1.02 1.01 0.99 0.98 0.97

1.12

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Price ($ per pound)

Year

267.7

238.2

254.8 265.7

435.8

492.4

325.1

400.2 402.9

346.8

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Revenue per vessel (thousnads of $)

Year
120

Revenue per trip was about $10,000 in 2002 and reached a high of $49,000 in 2009. In 2011, 

revenue per trip was $28,000 (Figure 101). From 2002 to 2011, revenue per day at sea 

averaged $1,600 (Figure 102). Revenue per day at sea was the greatest ($1,800) in 2006, but 

decreased by 20% to $1,400 in 2011, relative to the period from 2007 – 2011. 

Figure 101. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per trip in the American Samoa Longline 

Fishery.

10,119

13,407

16,205

21,158

35,163 35,525

31,854

48,849

36,623

28,020

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Revenue per trip ($)

Year
121

Figure 102. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per day at sea fishing in the American

Samoa Longline Fishery.

The Gini coefficient was calculated to estimate the equality of the distribution of revenue among 

active vessels in the American Samoa Longline Fishery (Figure 103). In 2002, the Gini coefficient 

was 0.58 and decreased to 0.23 in 2007. The decreasing Gini coefficient during this time period 

was due to the decline in the number of small vessels (vessels 50 feet or shorter in legnth): 

these vessels accounted for the lowest revenues. Since then, the number of small vessels has 

been decreasing and the remaining vessels are mostly large (longer than 70 feet) and account 

for the majority of the revenues. This has contributed to a decreasing Gini coefficient (0.23–

0.34 for 2007 – 2011).

1,746

1,493 1,506

1,562

1,780 1,749

1,356

1,553

1,646

1,419

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1,800

2,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Rrevenue per day ($)

Year
122

Figure 103. The Gini coefficient for active vessels in the American Samoa Longline Fishery.

d. Synopsis of recent trends 

A declining albacore catch per unit effort (CPUE) in the American Samoa Longline Fishery has 

raised concern about the potential risk of overfishing in this fishery. Albacore CPUE was over 25 

fish per 1,000 hooks in 2002, and fell to about 10 fish per 1,000 hooks in 2011. The declining 

CPUE has strained the fishery economically. Despite the results of a 2012 stock assessment by 

the Secretariat of the Pacific Community3that stated that overfishing of South Pacific albacore is 

not occurring, the use of longline gear across the South Pacific has increased the vulnerability of 

the stock. Longline gear tends to target older albacore despite a lower proportion of older 

albacore in the fishery. At the February 2013 meeting, the Science and Statistical Committee of 

the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council recommended that American Samoa collaborate 

with the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission and the South Pacific Fisheries 

Cooperation to improve management of this fishery.

 

3 Hoyle, S., J. Hampton and N. Davies. 29 July 2012. Stock assessment of albacore tuna in the south 

Pacific Ocean Rev 1. Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, Scientific Committee Eigth 

Regular Session. WCPFC-SC8-2012/SA-WP-04-REV1, available online at 

http://www.wcpfc.int/node/3233

0.58

0.49 0.51

0.47

0.28

0.23

0.34

0.26 0.28 0.29

0.00

0.10

0.20

0.30

0.40

0.50

0.60

0.70

0.80

0.90

1.00

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Gini coefficient

Year
123

Greater Atlantic Region

The northern Atlantic coast of the Northeast United States, from Maine to North Carolina, 

comprises a variety of ecosystems and has historically been one of the most productive marine 

environments worldwide. Groundfish and invertebrates comprise a large portion of the 

commercial harvest. In addition, the region falls along important migration routes for many 

highly migratory species such as the northern right whale, tunas, sea turtles, and numerous 

seabirds. Commercial fisheries in this region are managed by the New England and Mid-Atlantic 

Fishery Management Councils. These Councils are responsible for a total of 11 fishery 

management plans covering 37 species; five plans are managed by the New England Fishery 

Management Council (25 species), four are managed by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management 

Council (10 species), and two (monkfish and spiny dogfish) are jointly managed. The New 

England Fishery Management Council has lead authority for monkfish while the Mid-Atlantic 

Fishery Management Council has lead authority for spiny dogfish.

Of the 11 Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) managed by either the New England or Mid-Atlantic 

Councils, 3 are currently managed using catch shares (Surfclam/Ocean Quahog, Mid-Atlantic 

Tilefish, and Northeast Multispecies), and a component of the Atlantic Sea Scallop FMP is 

managed as a catch share program (General Category Individual Fishing Quota, or IFQ). The 

limited access portion of the scallop fishery and the remaining seven FMPs are not managed 

under catch shares. In this report, performance indicators are reported for two non-catch share 

fisheries: Limited Access Days at Sea Atlantic Sea Scallop and Monkfish.

Performance indicators are reported here for each of these fisheries for the 2012 fishing year 

(Table 7). Detailed trend data for these fisheries are reported following a synopsis of each fishery 

including gears used, target and component species, products sold, current management 

approach, and key changes affecting the fishery. Trends for monkfish are reported for the years 

2002–2012. Trends for the limited access scallop fishery are reported from 2007 to 2012, due to 

changes in the monitoring requirements needed to clearly delineate the limited access scallop 

fishery from the General Category Scallop Individual Fishery Quota fishery. All price and revenue 

data have been adjusted for inflation to 2010-equivalent dollars using the Gross Domestic 

Product price deflator. Quota and landings are reported for monkfish in live-weight–equivalent 

pounds and for scallop in pounds of meat.
124

Table 7. Greater Atlantic Region Fishery Performance Measures by Fishery for 2012.

Catch and Landings Monkfish Limited Access Atlantic 

Sea Scallops

Quota allocated to fisherya32,582,118 58,503,960

Aggregate landingsa20,015,217 49,875,593

Utilization 61.4% 85.3%

Quota exceeded N N

Effort

Number of permits (number) 685 356

Active Vessels (number) 489 351

Trips (number) 9,730 2,868

Days at sea (days) 18,520 21,971

Season length (days) 365 365

Revenue ($)b

Fishery species revenue $19,476,681 $463,695,633

Other species revenue $197,806,095 $1,647,536

Total Revenue $217,282,776 $465,343,169

Average fishery species price (per 

pound) $0.97 $9.33

Fishery species revenue per vessel $39,830 $1,321,070

Other species revenue per vessel $404,511 $4,964

Total revenue per vessel $444,341 $1,325,764

Fishery species revenue per trip $2,002 $161,679

Other species revenue per trip $20,330 $574

Total revenue per trip $22,331 $162,254

Fishery species revenue per day at sea $1,502 $21,105

Other species revenue per day at sea $10,681 $75

Total revenue per day at sea $11,732 $21,180

Other

Limited entry Y Y

Gini coefficient 0.61 0.19

aQuota and landings are reported for monkfish in live weight pounds and in pounds of meat 

for scallops.

bAll revenue data have been adjusted by the GDP deflator indexed for 2010.
125

A. Monkfish

Monkfish (also referred to as “goosefish” or “anglerfish”) are broadly distributed on the Northeast 

U.S. continental shelf in both inshore waters and deep-water canyons. Prior to the 1990’s, 

monkfish were considered a “trash fish” because there was no market. Depletion of monkfish 

stocks in European waters, the Mediterranean, and the Pacific created an international market for 

monkfish leading to rapid expansion of the fishery during the 1990’s in the Northeast Region 

from Maine to Virginia and stretching southward to include North Carolina. This expansion led to 

the development of the first fishery management plan implemented in 19994. 

1. Fishery synopsis

a. Gear used 

In the early 1990’s, approximately 40% of total monkfish landings were from scallop dredge 

gear. With the recovery of the scallop resource, relatively little monkfish are now landed using 

scallop gear. As of 2014, the majority of landings come from vessels using trawl or gillnet gear, 

although the relative mix of landings by gears differs between vessels operating in the Gulf of 

Maine and the northern part of Georges Bank, known as the Northern Management Area (NMA),

and vessels operating in the Southern Management Area (SMA), which extends from the 

southern flank of Georges Bank through the Mid-Atlantic Bight. In the NMA, most monkfish are 

landed using trawl gear as part of the groundfish trawl fishery; whereas in the SMA, the majority 

of monkfish are landed using gillnet gear on trips that are targeting monkfish. 

b. Target/component species 

Monkfish may be targeted or may be a component species in a mixed-species fishery depending 

on area fished and gear. Monkfish are typically targeted using larger mesh (10 to 12-inch mesh) 

gillnets in the SMA. On trips using trawl gear, monkfish is a component of a mixed-species trip 

that may include groundfish, dogfish, skates, and some lobster. Trips taken in the Gulf of Maine 

may include monkfish, groundfish, and lobster whereas trips taken on Georges Bank are more 

likely to also include dogfish and skates. 

c. Market channels

Monkfish are mostly mouth with an edible tail and liver. Monkfish are sold as tails-only, liversonly, or whole fish. Limited on-board processing occurs by removing the tails and livers. Livers 

undergo further on-shore processing. Whole fish are eviscerated with the liver left intact in the 

body cavity of the fish. While some monkfish are sold in U.S. domestic markets, the majority are 

exported to markets in Europe and Asia. 

 

4

For more information on monkfish management and SAFE reports 

http://www.nefmc.org/monk/index.html or general information about monkfish see 

http://www.fishwatch.gov/seafood_profiles/species/monkfish/species_pages/monkfish.htm
126

2. Management Program

a. Current management controls

Monkfish are jointly managed by the New England and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management 

Councils, with lead authority delegated to the New England Fishery Management Council. The 

fishery is primarily managed by a combination of days-at-sea (DAS) and landing limits5. These 

controls vary depending on management area (SMA or NMA) and type of permit. Permit 

categories A and B are issued to vessels that have neither a scallop limited access nor a 

groundfish limited access permit; permit categories C and D are issued to vessels that have 

either a scallop or groundfish limited access permit; permit category E is an open access 

incidental catch permit. Current DAS allocations are 45.2 DAS, of which no more than 32 DAS 

may be used in the SMA. In the NMA, monkfish landing limits for permit categories A and C are 

3,638 pounds whole weight per DAS used, while landing limits for permit categories B and D are 

1,746 pounds whole weight per DAS fished. In the SMA, permit categories A and C are subject to 

a 1,776 pounds whole weight landing limit per monkfish DAS used, while permit categories B and 

D are limited to 1,455 pounds whole weight per monkfish DAS used. The incidental landing limit 

in the NMA is 25% of total weight of fish on board not to exceed 873 pounds whole weight for 

permit categories E, but 1,746 and 1,455 pounds whole weight for permit Categories C and D, 

respectively when fishing on a Northeast multispecies (groundfish) DAS. In the SMA, the 

incidental landing limit is 146 pounds whole weight in the SMA for non-trawl caught monkfish 

and 873 pounds whole weight for monkfish caught by trawl gear when fishing on a groundfish 

DAS. Other monkfish incidental landing limits apply to vessels not fishing under any DAS 

controls, based on the gear used and where fishing is occurring.

b. Key changes from past management controls

The monkfish management plan includes a number of provisions that have been added since the 

Fishery Management Plan was first implemented. These provisions include an additional permit 

category for a special offshore permit (Category F) to reflect historic fishing operations in the 

SMA and area closures to protect deep sea corals. The offshore permit program is voluntary and 

offers a higher trip limit to vessels electing to participate in the program in exchange for a lower 

DAS allocation. Participating vessels must fish for monkfish exclusively in the designated offshore 

area. Permit category G was developed to accommodate vessels that had been fishing for 

monkfish south of 38o240’ N latitude that had been excluded from the original Fishery 

Management Plan. Recently, the New England Fishery Management Council modified the area 

restriction for Category H permits, and now allows such vessels to fish throughout the SMA. 

Through that same action (Framework Adjustment 8), the Councils allowed monkfish-only DAS 

(allocated monkfish DAS in excess of a Category C or D permit’s allocation of groundfish 

Category A DAS) to be used at any time during the fishing year. The New England Fishery 

Management Council is currently developing a Fishery Management Plan amendment 

(Amendment 6) that would include an alternative to adopt a catch share program for the 

monkfish fishery, but also includes other provisions modifying existing effort controls.

 

5 Detailed information on current regulations can be found at 

http://www.nero.noaa.gov/regs/infodocs/monkfish_fishery_info-final.pdf
127

3. Management Objectives

In addition to the National Standards established under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the 

objectives of the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan were intended to ensure adequate spawning 

and the highest fishery yields without significantly altering the fisheries for other species or 

causing extensive regulatory discards. The specific objectives of the Fishery Management Plan 

include the following:

1) To end and prevent overfishing; to rebuild and maintain a healthy spawning stock.

2) To optimize yield and maximize economic benefits to the various fishing sectors.

3) To prevent fishing on immature fish.

4) To allow the traditional incidental catch of monkfish to occur. 

4. Recent Trends

a. Quota and landings

Although a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) was set for monkfish during the years 2002-2010, these 

were target TACs (TTAC) that did not trigger in-season closures, but were used to make 

adjustments to the Fishery Management Plan for subsequent fishing years. These catch targets 

were subdivided into TTACs for both the NMA and the SMA. In compliance with the 2006

Magnuson-Stevens Act re-authorization, an Annual Catch Target (ACT) and accountability 

measures were implemented for the 2011 fishing year. For purposes of discussion, the term 

quota is used herein to refer to both TTACs and ACT. Since TTACs and ACT apply to the entire 

fishery, reported landings include those in state waters from federally-permitted vessels 

including both open access and limited access permit holders. All other performance indicators 

(effort and revenue) are reported only for the limited access fishery.

Both quota and landings were substantially higher in 2002-2005 as compared to 2006 to 2012

(Figure 104). From 2002 to 2005, landings averaged 47.4 million pounds and aggregate quotas 

were set at an average of 51.9 million pounds. During these years, the aggregate TTAC was 

exceeded in only 2002 although TTAC for the SMA was not exceeded. In 2003, the TTAC was 

exceeded in the SMA, but the combined TTAC was not exceeded. The TTAC was not exceeded in 

either management area during 2004 or 2005. 

Due to a determination that the monkfish rebuilding targets would not be met by 2009, the 

combined TTAC for the NMA and SMA was lowered to 25.1 million pounds in 2006 and was set at 

22.2 million pounds from 2007 to 2010. To meet these conservation requirements, DAS 

allocations and trip limits were adjusted, resulting in reductions in landings from 28.8 million 

pounds to 16.3 million pounds, an average annual decline of 13%. During these years, the SMA 

TTAC was exceeded in both 2006 and 2008, and in 2007 the TTAC was exceeded in both the 

SMA and the NMA. The TTAC was not exceeded in either area in 2009 or 2010. 

The 2011 and 2012, the quota (ACT) was increased to 32.6 million pounds based on stock 

assessment information in 2010 indicating that the NMA and SMA were rebuilt. Landings in 2011 

were 21.1 million pounds and 20 million pounds in 2012. The 2011 and 2012 ACT were not 

exceeded in either the NMA or SMA.
128

As noted above, quotas were exceeded in either the NMA, SMA or both on five occasions. 

However, the combined quota was exceeded on four occasions as the quota utilization exceeded 

100% in 2002, 2006, 2007, and 2008 (Figure 105). Over the most recent four years (2009-

2012), quotas have not been exceeded, but quota utilization has declined from 83% in 2009 to 

61% in 2012.

Figure 104. Quota and landings in the Monkfish Fishery.

43.2

61.6

52.3

50.3

25.1

22.3 22.3 22.3 22.3

32.6 32.6

48.5

58.3

39.6

43.2

28.8 28.0

23.4

18.6 16.5

21.2 20.0

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Weight (millions of pounds)

Year

Quota

Landings
129

Figure 105. Utilization of the available Monkfish quota.

b. Effort 

Although there are a finite number of permits that qualified for the monkfish limited access 

program, the number of valid permits that may be issued in any given year can vary depending 

on a permit’s status. Permits that may be subject to sanction due to an enforcement action are 

not counted, nor are permits that are placed in the Conformation of Permit History (CPH) 

program. Permits are placed in the CPH program if there is no physical vessel associated with the 

permit; if the vessel has been sunk, is under repair, has been sold, or if the owner has an illness. 

As long as a permit remains in the CPH program, it is not available for use in the monkfish 

fishery so it is not counted as a valid permit. For this report, the number of valid permits is 

reported as of the start of the fishing year. Since the number of valid permits may change 

throughout the fishing year as permits may be placed in CPH, transferred, or cancelled, the 

number of permits reported here may differ somewhat from those reported elsewhere.

There were 726 limited access monkfish permits issued in 2002 (Figure 106). The number of 

limited access permits issued increased year by year, reaching 781 and 782 permits in 2006 and 

2007, respectively. The increase in 2006 was due to the addition of a new limited access permit. 

Changes in prior years have been due to permit sanctions or changes to CPH program status. 

Since 2007, the number of valid permits declined year by year to 685 permits in 2012.

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

140%

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Utilization 0f quota (%)

Year
130

Figure 106. Number of limited access permits in the Monkfish Fishery.

Limited access vessels participating in the monkfish fishery were defined as vessels with a 

limited access permit that landed monkfish on at least one trip during the year. This definition 

includes monkfish vessels that used monkfish DAS to harvest monkfish as well as limited access 

vessels that landed incidental amounts of monkfish while engaged in other fisheries. The number 

of active limited access vessels in the monkfish fishery was highest in 2003, but has been on a 

declining trend ever since (Figure 107). Overall, the number of active vessels declined from 2003 

to 2011 at an average annual rate of 4.2%, but the rate of change was substantially greater

from 2009-2011 (-6.4% per year) compared to 2003-2008 (-3.4%). This more recent decline in 

active vessels participating in the monkfish fishery is likely related to the decline in numbers of 

active groundfish vessels, since the two fisheries overlap. In 2012, vessel numbers increased 

slightly to 489.

726

743

771 767

781 782

771

763

745

720

685

620

640

660

680

700

720

740

760

780

800

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Number of prmits 

Year
131

Figure 107. Number of active vessels participating in the Monkfish Fishery.

The number of trips taken by limited access permit holders on which monkfish were landed 

during the period 2002-2007 ranged from a low of 16,641 (2004) to a high of 19,204 (2005; 

Figure 108). With the exception of 2011, the number of trips where monkfish were landed has 

declined steadily since 2007 reaching a time-series low of 9,730 trips in 2012. The decline in 

trips, particularly from 2009 to 2012, is consistent with the downward trend in number of active 

vessels. 

Days absent on trips taken by active vessels on which monkfish were landed were estimated 

using data from vessel trip reports. This differs from DAS as they are counted against allocated 

monkfish DAS, and includes the accumulated days absent on trips where only incidental amounts 

of monkfish were landed as well as trips taken on a monkfish DAS where monkfish were the 

primary target. As was the case for active vessels, the number of days absent on trips where 

monkfish were landed peaked in 2003 at 44,170 days (Figure 109) and the number of days 

absent has been on a general declining trend ever since. Although days absent fluctuated up and 

down from 2004 to 2007, days absent declined in consecutive years going from 35,096 days in 

2007 to 26,896 days in 2010. The number of days absent increased 7.1% in 2011 to 28,808 

days, but fell to a low of 18,520 days in 2012. Throughout 2002 to 2012, the season length 

remained constant at a full calendar year as there were no in-season closures of the Monkfish 

Fishery in either the SMA or NMA.

666 683

638 642 636

610

588

549

496 481 489

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Number of vessels

Year
132

Figure 108. Number of trips taken to fish for Monkfish.

Figure 109. Number of days absent spent fishing on trips that landed Monkfish.

17,482 17,921

16,641

19,204

17,077 17,294

15,549

14,074

12,092

14,553

9,730

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Number of trips

Year

42.2

44.2

38.5

40.3

33.9 35.1

32.1

29.8

26.9

28.8

18.5

 -

 10

 20

 30

 40

 50

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Days absent (thousands of days)

Year
133

c. Revenue

Revenue from monkfish (adjusted for inflation using the GDP deflator indexed for 2010) ranged 

from a high of $44.4 million in 2005 to a low of $17.5 million in 2009 (Figure 110). However, the 

majority of monkfish are landed as part of a mixed species fishery where revenues from species 

other than monkfish averaged over 80% of the total value of all species harvested on trips that 

land monkfish. This means that the aggregate value of all species landed on monkfish trips 

ranged between $201 and $268 million from 2002 to 2012. On average, average annual values 

of both monkfish ($39.5 million) and total revenue ($250.5 million) were higher in 2002-2005 

than in 2006-2012, when monkfish revenue averaged $23.0 million and total revenue from all 

species averaged $213.7 million.

Monkfish are sold as tails, livers, and whole fish, each of which fetches a different price per 

pound of landed product, with monkfish livers fetching the highest price. Since all landed weights 

are reported in live weight, aggregate revenues divided by landings yields prices for live weight 

price, not landed weight, which would be considerably higher as the landed weight to live weight 

conversion is 3.32.

The average live weight price for monkfish was $0.82 per pound in 2002 (Figure 111). Average 

live weight price increased steadily to $1.02 per pound in 2005 before gradually declining to 

$0.94-0.95 in 2008 and 2009, respectively. The average live weight monkfish price increased to 

highs of $1.17 per pound in 2010 and $1.28 per pound in 2011, but declined to $0.97 per pound 

in 2012.

Figure 110. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) from monkfish and non-monkfish landings.

39.7 41.5 32.6 44.0

28.2 27.7 22.0 17.5 19.0 27.1 19.5

202.8 210.8

206.7

223.8

174.9 183.4

181.7 183.8 193.2

220.3

197.8

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue (millions of $)

Year

Non-fishery

Fishery
134

Figure 111. Average live weight prices (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) for monkfish.

Total revenue per vessel participating in the Monkfish Fishery averaged $363,353 annually from 

2002 to 2004, of which $50,945 was from monkfish (Figure 112). In 2005, monkfish revenue per 

vessel peaked at $57,416 and total revenue from all species summed to $406,037. Aggregate 

revenue per vessel declined to $311,181 in 2006, then increased steadily through 2011, when it 

reached a time-series high of $495,767 (of which monkfish accounted for $37,679). In 2012, 

both monkfish and total revenue went down to $28,433 and $432,944, respectively. Given that 

aggregate revenues from all species in the fishery were relatively stable from 2006 to 2011, the 

improvement in revenue per vessel was due mostly to declines in the number of active vessels 

(Figure 107). During 2012, total revenue per vessel declined partly due to an increase (2%) in 

the number of active vessels (Figure 107), and partly due to a reduction in both monkfish and 

non-monkfish revenue (Figure 110). However, the decline in monkfish revenue was 

proportionally larger, and due to a decline in average live-weight monkfish price from $1.28 per 

lb in 2011 to $0.97 per lb in 2012 (Figure 111), even though total monkfish landings in 2011 and 

2012 were nearly identical (Figure 104).

A general decline in other measures of effort, including number of trips and days at sea on trips 

when monkfish were landed, is coincident with the reduction in number of active vessels. 

Declines in these measures of effort, coupled with relatively stable aggregate revenues from 

2006 to 2012, produced an upward trend in both revenue per trip (Figure 113) and revenue per 

day at sea (Figure 114), although the trend is more modest for the latter.

0.82

0.71

0.82

1.02 0.98 0.99

0.94 0.94

1.15

1.28

0.97

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

1.40

1.60

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Price ($ per live weight pound)

Year
135

Figure 112. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per active vessel participating in the 

Monkfish Fishery.

Figure 113. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per trip in the Monkfish Fishery.

60 61 51 69 44 45 37 32 38 56 40

305 309 324

349

275 301 309 335

389

458

405

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue per vessel (thousands of $)

Year

Non-fishery

Fishery

2,273 2,314 1,959 2,293 1,652 1,602 1,417 1,244 1,572 1,864 2,002

11,603 11,765 12,420 11,655

10,244 10,605 11,686 13,057

15,975 15,141

20,330

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue per trip ($)

Year

Non-fishery

Fishery
136

Figure 114. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per day at sea fishing for monkfish.

The Gini coefficient calculated for vessels earning revenue in the Monkfish Fishery was nearly 

constant from 2002 to 2006 averaging 0.61 (Figure 115). The coefficient was below 0.60 in 

2007-2011, except for 2010 when it was 0.63, then decreased to 0.61 in 2012. Overall, the Gini 

coefficient has remained relatively constant indicating that there has been no appreciable change 

in the distribution of monkfish revenues among limited access vessels participating in the 

monkfish fishery.

942 939 846 1,092 832 790 686 587 707 942 1,052

4,807 4,774 5,365

5,548

5,158 5,226 5,661 6,160

7,182

7,649

10,681

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue per day ($)

Year

Non-fishery

Fishery
137

Figure 115. The Gini coefficient for active vessels participating in the Monkfish Fishery.

d. Synopsis of recent trends 

The monkfish fishery has been relatively stable in recent years in terms of landings and DAS 

usage. Recent efforts have focused on increasing the proportion of the ACTs harvested in each 

area due to continued under-harvest of available ACTs. Since incidental landings while targeting 

groundfish are the predominant source of monkfish catch in the NMA, such limits have been 

increased as the primary means of increasing monkfish landings, while in the SMA, landing limits 

when fishing on a monkfish DAS limit have been increased as a means to increase monkfish 

landings. In addition, the Councils have attempted to increase the efficiency of vessel operations 

by eliminating measures that unnecessarily restrict vessel operations such as limitations on when 

monkfish-only DAS can be used or where Category H permitted vessels can fish. Available 

monkfish quota provides an additional revenue source for vessels subject to quota reductions in 

other fisheries during recent years, especially the groundfish fishery. However, there is a concern 

that effort shifts from other fisheries may adversely affect the sustainability of monkfish stocks 

and hence the economic viability of the monkfish fishery, particularly in light of existing latent 

effort within the monkfish fishery itself, and continued patterns in retrospective monkfish stock 

assessments, which overestimate biomass and underestimate fishing mortality. 

0.63 0.61 0.62 0.6 0.6

0.57 0.57 0.59

0.63

0.59 0.61

0.00

0.10

0.20

0.30

0.40

0.50

0.60

0.70

0.80

0.90

1.00

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Gini coefficient

Year
138

B. Limited Access Atlantic Sea Scallops

The majority of the Atlantic sea scallop fishery is prosecuted in Mid-Atlantic Coastal waters from 

Virginia to New York and on Georges Bank and surrounding areas including the Great South 

Channel and Nantucket Shoals6. The original Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic sea scallops 

was developed by the New England Fishery Management Council and implemented in 1994 

creating a management program with separate provisions for limited access and open access 

vessels. Limited access vessels were managed under Days at Sea (DAS) controls, whereas open 

access vessels which were referred to as General Category (GC) vessels were primarily regulated 

through trip limits. At the time the Fishery Management Plan was implemented, the scallop 

resource was depleted and fishing effort was not sustainable. The resource has since rebounded 

to sustainable levels at near record high population sizes after a series of management actions to 

reduce DAS, close areas, limit crew size, and implement gear modifications. As of 2014, the sea 

scallop fishery is the highest valued fishery in the Northeast region and is the most valuable wild 

scallop fishery in the world. In 2010, the General Category fishery was converted to a catch 

share fishery and was allocated 5% of the entire scallop catch limit. Performance measures for 

the General Category Individual Fishing Quota fishery are included in a National report on the 

economic performance of U.S. catch share programs (Brinson and Thunberg, 2013). The 

following is based only on the limited access fishery.

1. Fishery synopsis

a. Gear used 

Sea scallops are predominately harvested using dredge gear, although a small number of vessels 

harvest scallops using otter trawls. The scallop dredge consists of a towing bar, a metal frame, 

and a mesh bag made from linked metal rings. On the top of the dredge, there is a space 

between the frame and the bag known as the “twine top”. The placement and the mesh size of 

twine top allow small scallops to escape as well as allowing escapement of small finfish. Larger 

scallops are retained in the bag. Vessels may tow more than one dredge at a time although only 

one dredge may be permitted under certain circumstances. Each scallop dredge may not exceed 

a specified maximum size and both ring size and mesh size of the twine top are subject to 

minimum size specifications.

b. Target/component species 

The Fishery Management Plan does not regulate any species other than Atlantic sea scallops. 

Scallop gear is a specialized gear and under current population sizes, high scallop prices, and 

regulations in other fisheries, very few species other than scallops are retained on scallop trips. 

However, in the 1990’s when the scallop resource was at lower abundance, monkfish as well as 

flatfish such as yellowtail flounder were an important component catch on scallop trips. 

 

6 This section draws from FishWatch at the following URL. The URL provides general information about 

Atlantic sea scallops as well as other species 

http://www.fishwatch.gov/seafood_profiles/species/scallop/species_pages/atlantic_sea_scallop.htm
139

c. Market channels

The majority of Atlantic sea scallops are sold as shucked meats in which the abductor muscle is 

cut from the shell and retained. Most scallops are shucked by crew at sea, although there is a 

market for roe-on scallops.

2. Management Program

a. Current management controls

Atlantic sea scallops are managed by a combination of DAS controls and a rotational area 

program. The DAS controls, as well as limits on crew size and gear, were implemented 

concurrent with the original Fishery Management Plan. Unlike groundfish that included an 

individual DAS category, the scallop Fishery Management Plan provides for uniform DAS 

allocations depending on permit category. Full-time permits are allocated more DAS than parttime, and part-time permits are allocated more DAS than occasional permits. Qualification 

criteria were developed for each permit category and vessels were assigned a permit category 

based on the qualification criteria. A rotational area program was introduced in 2004 with 

Amendment 10 to improve the economic yield from the fishery by reducing growth overfishing. 

The rotational area program is based on annual surveys to identify high concentrations of 

juvenile scallops. These areas are temporarily closed to scallop fishing to take advantage of high 

growth rates and increased prices received for larger scallops. Reopening a closed area is done 

under controlled circumstances by allocating a limited number of trips to each permit holder so 

as to avoid a “gold rush” that would occur if access to the area were not controlled.

b. Key changes from past management controls

In addition to the Atlantic sea scallop rotational area program, the Fishery Management Plan

includes provisions for access to some areas that were closed to all gears as part of the 

groundfish plan. These areas include closed Area 1, closed Area 2, and the Nantucket Lightship 

area. Access to these areas is allocated in a manner similar to that of the rotational area 

program but the areas have had seasonal closures at various times when bycatch of yellowtail 

flounder is expected to be highest. Currently, only Closed Area 2 has a seasonal closure. Note 

that the requirement for Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures meant that the New 

England Fishery Management Council has had to develop bycatch Annual Catch Limits and 

Accountability Measures for yellowtail flounder in the scallop fishery as a whole. To increase the 

likelihood that the yellowtail quota will not be exceeded, industry, in conjunction with the 

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth School and Marine Sciences and Technology, has 

developed a yellowtail avoidance program by reporting areas with high encounter rates with 

yellowtail flounder. In 2013 an Annual Catch Limit and Accountability Measures for windowpane 

flounder were added to the scallop FMP. Additionally, the scallop fishery has been subject to the 

requirement to use a turtle excluder device in times and areas where interactions with turtles are 

likely.
140

3. Management Objectives

In addition to the National Standards established under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the 

objectives of the Atlantic sea scallop Fishery Management Plan have evolved over time in 

response to the specific management problems as they have changed over time. The original 

Fishery Management Plan objectives dealt almost exclusively with biological concerns intended to 

restore the adults’ stock abundance and enhance yield per recruit from the stock. In doing so, 

however, the overarching management objective was “to maximize the joint social and economic 

benefits from harvesting and use of the sea scallop resource.” The most recent Fishery 

Management Plan amendment (Amendment 15) was developed to bring the Fishery Management 

Plan into compliance with the re-authorized Magnuson-Stevens Act, address excess capacity in 

the limited access fishery, and consider measures to improve the effectiveness of the overall 

management programs. Specific Amendment 15 objectives were to:

1) Identify and implement appropriate Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures for 

various components of the scallop fishery.

2) Consider addressing capacity in the limited access scallop fishery and improve overall 

economic performance while considering impacts on various fisheries and fishing 

communities.

3) Consider adjusting the current overfishing definition to be more compatible with area 

rotation.

4) Consider adjustments to the limited access general category management program.

5) Consider addressing the essential fish habitat closed areas under the Scallop Fishery 

Management Plan.

6) Consider adjustments to the current research set-aside program.

7) Consider adjusting the scallop fishing year.

4. Recent Trends

a. Quota and landings

Target total allowable catch (TTAC) were set in the Limited Access Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery 

from 2007 to 2010. These TTACs were set based on resource conditions and were used to set 

days at sea limits that were expected to meet the TTACs for that fishing year. Exceeding a TTAC 

did not result in any in-season closures, but may have resulted in adjustments to allocated days 

at sea in the following year. In 2011, an Annual Catch Limit (ACL) was set with accountability 

measures in compliance with the reauthorized Magnuson-Stevens Act. 

The limited access scallop TTACs were set at about 40 million pounds in both 2007 and 2008 

with modest increases to 41.3 and 43.3 million pounds in 2009 and 2010, respectively; whereas,

the 2011 ACL was set at 55.0 million pounds and was increased to 58.5 million pounds in 2012

(Figure 116). Landings of scallops exceeded the TTACs in each year from 2007 to 2010 by as 

much as 29% in 2007, but neither the 2011 nor the 2012 ACLs were exceeded (Figure 117). 

Landings were lowest in 2008 at 44.6 million pounds, but were right around 50 million pounds in 

all other years including 2012 when landings were 49.9 million pounds.
141

Figure 116. Quota and landings in the Limited Access Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery.

Figure 117. Utilization of the available Limited Access Atlantic Sea Scallop quota.

39.5 40.0 41.3

43.3

55.0

58.5

51.0

44.7

49.2 50.1

52.0

49.9

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Weight (millions of pounds of meat)

Year

Quota

Landings

0.0%

20.0%

40.0%

60.0%

80.0%

100.0%

120.0%

140.0%

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Utilization of quota (%)

Year
142

b. Effort 

Although there are a finite number of limited access permits that may be issued in any given 

year, the number of valid permits during the year may vary; where a valid permit is defined as 

being a permit that is assigned to a vessel that may fish at any time during the fishing year. 

Vessel permits that may be subject to a sanction or are placed in the Conformation of Permit 

History (CPH) program are not valid permits, because they are not immediately available to be 

fished.

There were 369 valid limited access scallop permits issued in 2007 (Figure 118). The number of 

valid permits declined to 356 in 2008, but has remained stable at between 350 and 356 from 

2009 to 2012. The number of scallop limited access vessels that actually participated in the 

fishery varied little, ranging from 348 vessels in 2009 to 353 vessels in 2011 (Figure 119). In all 

years, at least 95% of vessels with valid limited access scallop permits participated in the 

fishery. Note that the number of active vessels in 2010 (351) was higher than the number of 

limited access permits (350) reported above. As previously noted the number of valid limited 

access scallop permits may vary throughout the year which means that the number of permits 

reported in Figure 118 depends on when the permit data were queried whereas, active vessels is 

based on the total number of vessels that participated in the Limited Access Atlantic Sea Scallop 

Fishery at any time during the year. In this manner, it is possible for the number of active 

vessels to exceed the number of limited access permits at a point in time, especially in fisheries 

like the limited access scallop fishery where the number of inactive permits is very low.

The number of limited access scallop trips was highest in 2007 at 3,772 trips, but was relatively 

stable in all other years averaging 3,035 trips plus or minus no more than 135 trips (Figure 120). 

Similarly, the number of days at sea on limited access scallop trips was highest in 2007 

(28,250), but hovered around 23,000 days at sea plus or minus 1,800 days at sea (Figure 121).

Since the limited access fishery was managed with TTACs and the 2011 Annual Catch Limits was 

not exceeded, the fishery was not subject to any in-season closures resulting in a year-round 

fishing season of 365/366 days. 
143

Figure 118. Number of permits issued in the Limited Access Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery.

Figure 119. Number of active vessels participating in the Limited Access Atlantic Sea Scallop 

Fishery.

369

356 354 350 354 356

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Number of permits

Year

351 349 348 351 353 351

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Number of vessels

Year
144

Figure 120. Number of trips taken in the Limited Access Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery.

Figure 121. Number of days at sea fishing in the Limited Access Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery.

3,772

3,035 3,106 3,087

2,912 2,868

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Number of trips

Year

28,250

22,082

24,371 24,902

21,870 21,971

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Days at sea

Year
145

c. Revenue 

All revenue data have been adjusted by the GDP deflator indexed for 2010. During the 1990’s, at 

a time when the scallop resource was depleted, income from monkfish was an important source 

of fishing revenue. More recently, reliance on revenue from other species has greatly diminished 

and was, at most, 1% of aggregate fishing revenue on limited access scallop trips. For this 

reason, the discussion herein will focus only on revenues received from scallops.

Inflation-adjusted limited access fishery scallop revenue was $349.9 million in 2007 (Figure 

122). Scallop revenue declined to $316.5 million in 2008, but has been on an increasing trend in 

consecutive years from $320.5 million in 2009 to $499.9 million in 2011. Sea scallop revenue 

dipped to $463.7 million in 2012, which was still second highest in the time period. 

The average price per pound of scallop meat was $6.94 in 2007 (Figure 123). Scallop prices 

increased to an average of $7.13 per pound in 2008 then dipped to $6.55 per pound in 2009. 

Since 2009, average prices increased to over $9 per pound in both 2011 ($9.64) and 2012 

($9.33).

Scallop revenue per participating limited access scallop vessel was at least $900,000 in every 

year from 2007 to 2009 and exceeded $1 million per vessel in every year thereafter (Figure 

124). After falling by about $100,000 from 2007 to 2008, scallop revenue per vessel increased 

every year from 2008 to 2011 from $906,900 to $1.4 million per vessel in 2011. Scallop revenue 

per vessels was $1.3 million in 2012. This general trend was also evident for scallop revenue per 

trip and for scallop revenue per day at sea. Scallop revenue per trip was $93,210 in 2007, 

increased to just over $100,000 in both 2008 and 2009 before increasing steadily to $171,377 in 

2011, followed by a decline of about $10,000 per trip to $161,679 in 2012 (Figure 125). 

Similarly, scallop revenue per day was $12,466 in 2007, was between $14,000 and $15,000 per 

day from 2008 to 2010 before increasing to a time-series high of $22,819 in 2011 (Figure 126).

Compared to 2011, scallop revenue per day declined by $1,753 to $21,180.
146

Figure 122. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) in the Limited Access Atlantic Sea Scallop 

Fishery.

Figure 123. Average prices (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) for Limited Access Atlantic Sea 

Scallops.

349.9

316.5 320.5

397.4

499.9

463.7

 -

 100

 200

 300

 400

 500

 600

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue (millions of $)

Year

6.87 7.09

6.52

7.92

9.62

9.30

0.00

2.00

4.00

6.00

8.00

10.00

12.00

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Price ($ per pound of meat)

Year
147

Figure 124. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per vessel in the Limited Access Atlantic 

Sea Scallop Fishery.

Figure 125. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per trip in the Limited Access Atlantic Sea 

Scallop Fishery.

997

907 921

1,132

1,416

1,321

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue per vessel (thousands of $)

Year

92,762

104,288 103,182

128,736

171,663

161,679

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue per trip ($)

Year
148

Figure 126. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per day at sea in the Limited Access 

Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery.

The Gini coefficient was 0.22 in 2007 and was virtually unchanged from 2008 to 2012 at 0.19

(Figure 127). This trend means that the relative distribution of scallop revenues among 

participating limited access scallop vessels has remained stable over time. The Gini coefficient 

ranges from 0 to 1 where a fishery in which fishing revenues for every vessel was the same 

would have a Gini coefficient of zero. The low value of the Gini coefficient for the Limited Access 

Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery indicates that scallop revenues among active vessels are relatively 

evenly distributed.

12,386

14,334

13,150

15,959

22,857

21,105

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue per day ($)

Year
149

Figure 127. The Gini coefficient for active vessels in the Limited Access Atlantic Sea Scallop 

Fishery.

d. Synopsis of recent trends 

Although the scallop fishery’s allocations have slightly declined since 2012 (i.e., allocations 

were about 30% higher in 2012 compared to 2013 and 2014), the Mid-Atlantic access areas 

(Delmarva and Elephant Trunk access areas, in particular) currently contain high numbers of 

small scallops. During 2013 and 2014, management has been focused on protecting these 

areas to allow these scallops to grow to marketable size and as a result, much of the fishing 

pressure has been in open areas (i.e., outside of the rotational access area program). 

Assuming that the annual resource surveys indicate that these small scallops are surviving 

and growing, we anticipate that beginning in 2015, the fishery will focus pressure again on 

access areas in the Mid-Atlantic for the next few years and quotas will be slightly higher as a 

result. Finally, the U.S. Atlantic sea scallop fishery was certified in December of 2013 as 

sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council, joining only a handful of fisheries on the 

eastern seaboard that have been certified by the MSC.

0.22

0.18 0.19 0.18 0.18 0.19

0.00

0.10

0.20

0.30

0.40

0.50

0.60

0.70

0.80

0.90

1.00

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Gini coefficient

Year
150

Southeast Region

The Gulf of Mexico is a semi-enclosed coastal sea with a vast array of topography and 

moderately high productivity that supports biological diversity and high biomass of fish, sea 

birds, and marine mammals. Along with supporting a large recreational and commercial fishing 

industry, the Gulf of Mexico also provides vital services such as oil and gas production, tourism, 

habitat for endangered species, and support for many Gulf State economies. The jurisdiction of 

the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Plans includes all waters of the Gulf of Mexico between 

three and 200 nautical miles from the coasts of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, and 

between three leagues (about nine nautical miles) and 200 nautical miles from the coasts of 

Florida and Texas. In total, the area spans more than 270,000 square miles. Fisheries located in 

the Gulf of Mexico are managed by NOAA Fisheries and the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 

Council through the implementation of seven Fishery Management Plans, two of which are jointly 

managed with the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. Targeted species include brown, 

white, and pink shrimp, Gulf of Mexico menhaden, king and Spanish mackerel, groupers,

snappers, jacks and tunas.

A synopsis of the performance measures for vermillion snapper is listed below (Table 8). These 

performance measures only capture the activity of the commercial fleet that operates in federal 

waters, which in 2012 accounted for 93% of the Gulf-wide vermilion snapper commercial 

landings. More detailed trend data for the vermilion snapper commercial segment of the reef fish 

fishery is reported in the sections to follow. In addition to trend data, a synopsis is provided 

including gears used, target and component species, products sold, current management 

approach, and key changes affecting the fishery. Trends are reported for the most recent 11

years beginning with 2002 and ending in 2012. All price and revenue data have been adjusted 

for inflation to 2010 equivalent dollars using the Gross Domestic Product price deflator. All 

quantities for quotas and landings are reported in gutted weight pounds
151

Table 8. Southeast Region Fishery Performance Measures for 2012.

Catch and Landings Vermilion Snapper

Quota allocated to fisherya 3,081,081b

Aggregate landings 2,028,784

c

Utilization 88%d

Quota exceeded N

Effort

Number of permits (number) 917

Active Vessels (number) 342

Trips (number) 2,813

Days at sea (days) 14,742

Season length (days) 366

Revenue ($)e

Fishery species revenue $5,856,234

Other species revenue $18,196,175

Total Revenue $24,052,410

Average fishery species price ($/pound) $2.89

Fishery species revenue per vessel $17,123

Other species revenue per vessel $53,205

Total revenue per vessel $70,329

Fishery species revenue per trip $2,082

Other species revenue per trip $6,469

Total revenue per trip $8,550

Fishery species revenue per day at sea $397

Other species revenue per day at sea $1,234

Total revenue per day at sea $1,632

Other

Limited entry Y

Gini coefficient 0.77

a Quota and landings are reported in gutted weight pounds.

b

The vermilion snapper Annual Catch Limit is set for the commercial and recreational 

sectors combined. In other words, there is no share of the ACL exclusively assigned to 

the commercial sector.

c

This value only applies to commercial landings that took place in federal waters. If 

state landings were included, then the aggregate commercial landings would equal 

2,865,171 gutted pounds. Data are only for the commercial sector, but the quota is for 

the commercial and recreational sectors combined.

d

This metric includes recreational landings (681,128 gutted pounds) and commercial 

landings that took place in federal waters only (2,028,784 gutted pounds). If state and 

federal commercial and recreational landings were used, then percent utilization would 

be about 93%.

e All revenue data have been adjusted by the GDP deflator indexed for 2010.
152

A. Vermilion snapper

Gulf of Mexico vermilion snapper is managed under the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan.

Vermilion snapper is one of 11 snapper species and 31 reef fish species in the management unit. 

Other species included in the Fishery Management Plan are groupers, jacks, one triggerfish

species, and one wrasse species. Following quota reductions as part of the red snapper 

rebuilding plan in 2007, as well as the implementation of Catch Share Programs for red snapper 

and grouper-tilefish in 2007 and 2010, respectively, vermilion snapper has become a more 

heavily targeted species in recent years. In addition to being an important commercial fishery, 

vermilion snapper is a popular recreational fishery in the Gulf of Mexico.

1. Fishery synopsis

a. Gear used 

Most vermilion snapper are harvested using vertical hook-and-line gear (handline and bandit 

gear). The use of trawl gear, fish traps, entanglement nets, and bottom longlines (in certain 

areas) are prohibited in the Gulf of Mexico.

b. Target/component species 

Vermilion snapper is most common over inshore live-bottom habitats, shelf-edge, rocky-rubble 

and rocky outcrop habitats. In the Gulf of Mexico, vermilion snapper are usually found near hard 

bottom areas in the northern Gulf of Mexico, the Florida Middle Grounds, and the Flower Garden

Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Vermilion snapper feed on fish, shrimp, crabs, polychaetes, 

and other bottom-dwelling invertebrates, as well as cephalopods and plankton found high in the 

water column. Vermilion snapper can reach lengths of up to 24 inches and have been found to 

live to at least 15 years.

c. Market channels

Market demand for vermilion snapper is lower than the market demand for red snapper due to 

the common perception that red snapper has superior flavor and versatility in cooking. Due to 

this difference in demand, red snapper yield a substantially higher price than vermilion snapper. 

About two-thirds of the vermilion snapper harvest is sold in the retail market (for home 

preparation) and the remaining third is sold in the wholesale market (for restaurant preparation). 

Significant competition in the U.S. vermilion snapper market comes from snapper imports from 

Mexico, Panama, and Venezuela.

2. Management Program

a. Current management controls

In 1984, the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan was originally designed to rebuild declining reef 

fish stocks, and initial regulations included certain gear restrictions, minimum size limits, and 

data reporting requirements. Regulation of vermilion snapper harvest continues through the 

implementation of gear restrictions, total length limits, and limited access through commercial 

permit requirements. While no new permits are currently being issued, permits are transferable. 
153

The vermilion snapper component of the reef fish fishery is managed with a stock Annual Catch 

Limit. The commercial and recreational sectors have separate allocations. Instead, when the 

combined recreational and commercial harvests reach or are projected to reach the stock Annual 

Catch Limit, the vermilion snapper fishing season is closed for both the commercial and 

recreational fishing sectors for the remainder of the year. In addition, several areas are closed to 

fishing for reef fish, including vermilion snapper, in order to protect sensitive fish populations and 

habitats.

b. Key changes from past management controls

The Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan was established in 1984 and has been amended nearly 

40 times in the years since. Vermilion snapper was included in the 33 species complex that 

comprised the original Fishery Management Plan Unit. In 1989, Amendment 1 set a minimum 

size limit of 8 inches for vermilion snapper. In 1995, Amendment 12 created an aggregate bag 

limit of 20 reef fish for all reef fish species, including vermilion snapper. In response to a 1996 

stock assessment that indicated that vermilion snapper were showing signs of overfishing, 

Amendment 15 increased the minimum size limit for vermilion snapper from 8 inches to 10

inches. Despite this measure, a 2001 stock assessment indicated that vermilion snapper were 

overfished and overfishing was occurring. In response to this, Amendment 23 created a 10-year 

rebuilding plan for vermilion snapper, increasing the minimum size limit to 11 inches, setting a 

recreational bag limit of 10 vermilion snapper, and closing the fishing season from April 22 

through May 31. The 2006 stock assessment later concluded that the stock was not overfished 

nor experiencing overfishing. A 2007 regulatory amendment then revised management measures 

for vermilion snapper to those prior to implementation of Reef Fish Amendment 23. In 2008,

Amendment 27 addressed methods to reduce discard mortality by the commercial and 

recreational sectors of the reef fish fishery with a requirement for the use of non-stainless steel 

circle hooks when using natural baits, as well as requirements for the possession and use of 

venting tools and dehooking devices.

An updated stock assessment conducted in 2011 found that the vermilion snapper stock 

continues to be neither overfished or undergoing overfishing. An Annual Catch Limit, Annual 

Catch Target, and a season closure accountability measure were instituted during the same year. 

The most recent Framework Action for the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan adjusted the 

Annual Catch Limit for vermilion snapper to be consistent with Acceptable Biological Catch 

recommendations of the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee; set the vermilion snapper 

bag limit at 10 fish within the 20-fish reef fish aggregate bag limit; and removed regulations 

requiring possession and use of venting tools by participants to minimize bycatch and bycatch 

mortality. Vermilion snapper are frequently caught by vessels participating in the Red Snapper 

and Grouper-Tilefish Individual Fishing Quota Programs.

3. Management Objectives

The original Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan identified a basic objective to manage fish stocks 

in order to harvest optimum yield for domestic use. Amendment 3 to the Plan revised the 

primary objective as stabilizing long-term population levels of all reef fish species by establishing 

a certain survival rate of biomass into the stock of spawning age to achieve at least a 20 percent 

spawning potential ratio. In addition to the National Standards established under the MagnusonStevens Act, four more specific objectives were also identified in the original Fishery 
154

Management Plan. Since the original Fishery Management Plan, multiple Amendments have been 

passed to establish Annual Catch Limits, recreational fishing limits, time and area closures for 

the reef fish species. Original objectives for the Plan include the following: 

1) Rebuild declining reef fish stocks wherever they occur within the fishery. 

2) Establish a fishery reporting system for monitoring the reef fish fishery.

3) Conserve and increase habitat for reef fish to increase reef fish populations and provide 

protection for juveniles.

4) Minimize conflicts between user groups of the resource and conflicts for space. 

4. Recent Trends

a. Quota and landings

This and subsequent sections discuss performance metrics for the commercial fleet that operates 

in federal waters. In 2012, the commercial fleet that operated in federal waters took about 93% 

of the Gulf-wide vermilion snapper commercial landings. There was no Annual Catch Limit, Total 

Allowable Catch, or quota for vermilion snapper specified until 2012. In 2012, the Council 

approved a combined Annual Catch Limit for commercial and recreational vermilion snapper. 

Landings of vermilion snapper have ranged from 1.6 million pounds to 3.4 million pounds for 

2002–2012 (Figure 128). Beginning in 2004, landings of vermilion snapper decreased relative to 

the previous year for the following three years by a rate of 13%, 16% and 4%, respectively. 

Landings increased in 2007, 2008 and 2009 relative to the previous year by 33%, 15% and 

32%, respectively. In 2010, vermilion snapper landings decreased by 46% to 1.7 million pounds. 

In 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill resulted in large closure areas, significantly reducing

landings for many Gulf fisheries. Large parts of the Gulf of Mexico, including state and federal 

waters, were closed to fishing during May through November 2010. In 2011, landings rebounded

to 2.6 million pounds, a 49% increase over the previous year. Landings in 2012 were down 22% 

relative to 2011.
155

Figure 128. Landings and quota of vermilion snapper in the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Fishery. 

Prior to 2012, there was no specific quota for the commercial sector, the ACL was set for the 

commercial and recreational sectors combined.

b. Effort

There were 1,285 Gulf of Mexico reef fish permits issued in 2002 (Figure 129). The number of 

permits has decreased at an average annual rate of 3%. In 2012, there were 917 permits 

renewed in the reef fish fishery. There were 441 active vessels fishing for vermilion snapper in 

2002 (Figure 130). Active vessels decreased by 4% in 2003, when compared to 2002. The 

number of active vessels increased for the following two years, reaching the maximum number 

of active vessels (469) in 2005. The largest annual decreases in the number of active vessels 

fishing for vermilion snapper occurred in 2007 (-21%) and 2010 (-13%). These decreases 

coincided with the implementation of the Red Snapper and Grouper-Tilefish Individual Fishing 

Quota Programs in 2007 and 2010, respectively. Vermilion snapper are often caught while 

fishermen are using their IFQ quota to target red snapper or groupers and tilefish. Since 2007, 

the number of active vessels has remained stable. 

1.9

2.2

1.9

1.6 1.6

2.1

2.4

3.2

1.7

2.6

2.0

3.1

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Weight (millions of pounds guitted weight)

Year

Landings

Quota
156

Figure 129. Count of Federal Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish permits, 2002-2011.

Figure 130. Number of active vessels landing vermilion snapper in the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish

Fishery.

1,285 1,257 1,228 1,193 1,173 1,142

1,099

999 969 952 917

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Number of permits

Year

441

423

457 469

411

323

348

370

321

343 342

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Number of vessels

Year
157

On average, fishermen took 3,100 trips where vermilion snapper were caught between 2002 and 

2012 (Figure 131). Trips landing vermilion snapper peaked (4,300) in 2003 and were the lowest 

(2,100) in 2010. In 2012, there were 2,800 trips taken where vermilion snapper were landed, a 

31% decline from 2002 trips. Similar to the trips, the number of days at sea fishing for vermilion 

snapper began to decline in 2004, but returned to an upward trend in 2008 (Figure 131). The 

number of days at sea continued to increase through 2012, except for in 2010. In 2010, the 

number of days at sea decreased by 25% when compared to the previous year. Fishing for 

vermilion snapper has been allowed year-round, except for 2006 and 2007 when the commercial 

sector was open for 325 days due to the implementation of a 40-day seasonal closure (Figure 

133).

Figure 131. Number of trips taken where vermilion snapper were landed in the Gulf of Mexico 

Reef Fish Fishery.

4,069

4,294

4,128

3,560

3,243

2,137

2,337

2,710

2,097

2,729 2,813

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

4,500

5,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Number of trips

Year
158

Figure 132. Number of days at sea where vermilion snapper were landed in the Gulf of Mexico 

Reef Fish Fishery.

Figure 133. Commercial season length for vermilion snapper, 2002 – 2012. 

14,019

14,644 14,405

13,203

12,399

10,752

11,740

13,606

10,179

13,510

14,742

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

16,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Days at sea

Year

365 365 366 365

325 325

366 365 365 365 366

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Season length (days)

Year
159

c. Revenue

Total revenue (inflation adjusted with the the GDP deflator, indexed for 2010) from commercial 

vessels harvesting vermilion snapper peaked in 2012 at $24 million and was the lowest in 2010 

($16 million), but has averaged $19 million for the 2002 – 2012 time period (Figure 134). On 

average, revenue from vermilion snapper comprised one-third of total revenue. In 2007, 

vermilion snapper dockside revenue began to comprise a larger component of total revenue and 

in 2009 revenue from the vermilion snapper component of the reef fish fishery comprised the 

largest proportion (42%) of total revenue. Average dockside prices for vermilion snapper have 

averaged $2.57 over the past 11 years, but have steadily risen from $2.45 to $2.89 per pound 

since 2009 (Figure 135). 

Figure 134. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) earned from vermilion snapper (Fishery 

Revenue) and other species (Non Fishery Revenue).

4.4 5.4 4.6 4.0 4.3 5.5 6.4

7.8

4.6

7.3

5.9

14.6

14.4

14.4

13.9 12.9 11.1

12.3

11.0

11.1

15.2 18.2

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue (millions of $)

Year

Non-fishery

Fishery
160

Figure 135. Average price per pound (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) for vermilion snapper.

As total revenue has increased and the number of active vessels has declined in the vermilion 

snapper component of the reef fish fishery, revenue per active vessel has generally increased. 

Total revenue per vessel was $70,000 in 2012, a 64% increase over total revenue per vessel in 

2002 (Figure 136). As the number of trips has declined, total revenue per trip has also generally 

increased: total revenue per trip in 2012 was $8,550, a 83% increase over the 2002 amount 

(Figure 137). Total revenue per trip only decreased in 2003 (by 1%), 2004 (by 0.2%) and 2009 

(by 14%), relative to the previous years. In 2003 and 2011, the number of trips increased when

compared to the previous year. In 2004, both total revenue and the number of trips declined (by 

4%) relative to the previous year. Revenue per day at sea has followed similar trends. Fishery 

revenue per day at sea peaked in 2009 at $576, while non-fishery revenue per day at sea 

peaked in 2012 at $1,234 (Figure 138). Total revenue per day at sea peaked in 2011 ($1,664).

2.36 2.42 2.38 2.46

2.74

2.61 2.67

2.45

2.67

2.82 2.89

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00

3.50

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Price ($ per pound)

Year
161

Figure 136. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per vessel fishing for vermilion snapper.

Figure 137. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per trip fishing for vermilion snapper.

9,919 12,684 10,062 8,567 10,486

16,920 18,505 21,167

14,436

21,274

17,123

33,090

34,102

31,503

29,642

31,276

34,236

35,318 29,614

34,438

44,263 53,205

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue per vessesl ($)

Year

Non-fishery

Fishery

1,075 1,250 1,114 1,129 1,329

2,557 2,756 2,890

2,210

2,674

2,082

3,586 3,359 3,488

3,905

3,964

5,175

5,259

4,043 5,272

5,563 6,469

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

9,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue per trip ($)

Year

Non-fishery

Fishery
162

Figure 138. Revenue (inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars) per day at sea fishing for vermilion 

snapper.

The Gini coefficient measures the equality of a distribution. The Gini coefficient is used to 

measure the distribution of revenue among active vessels fishing for vermilion snapper in the 

Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Fishery. A value of zero represents a perfectly equal distribution of 

revenue amongst the vessels, whereas, a value of one represents a perfectly unequal 

distribution. The Gini coefficient for the vermilion snapper fishery was nearly constant from 2002 

to 2006 ranging from 0.84 to 0.86 (Figure 139). This means that the relative distribution of 

vermilion snapper revenues among vessels was largely unchanged over these years. Since 2007, 

the Gini coefficient has been decreasing and was 0.8 in 2012. This change indicates that the 

share of vermilion snapper revenues among participating vermilion snapper vessels has become 

slightly more equally distributed in recent years as compared to the distribution of revenue 

during 2002 to 2006.

312 366 319 304 348

508 549 576

455

540

397

1,041 985

999 1,053 1,037

1,028

1,047

805 1,086

1,124

1,234

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1,800

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Revenue per day ($)

Year

Non-fishery

Fishery
163

Figure 139. The Gini coefficient for active vessels fishing for vermilion snapper.

d. Synopsis of recent trends 

Most changes in trends for the vermilion snapper component of the reef fish fishery begin around 

2007, the year that the Red Snapper IFQ Program began; this may indicate that the changes in 

trends are not related to a direct impact from specific management measures for vermilion 

snapper. This is not unexpected, as vermilion and red snapper are frequently caught together 

and are part of the overall Gulf of Mexico reef fish fishery, and managed under the same limited 

access Gulf reef fish permit. Vermilion snapper landings and days per trip increased in 2007. 

Prior to the Red Snapper IFQ, fishermen harvesting red snapper (whether targeting them or not) 

were limited to either 200 pounds or 2,000 pounds per trip (Class I or II red snapper licenses); 

furthermore, harvesting could only occur in the first 10-15 days of each month, resulting in 

shorter trips. This would have an indirect effect on all other species that are commonly caught 

with red snapper, including vermilion snapper, and thereby reduce the overall days per trip. 

Similarly, red snapper commercial fishermen would often target vermilion snapper when red 

snapper was closed each month. In the last five years, vermilion snapper also contributed more 

to the overall revenue for vessels harvesting vermilion snapper than in the previous years. This 

too may be partly influenced by the creation of the Red Snapper and Grouper-Tilefish IFQ 

Programs that allow year-round fishing. The switch to year-round fishing may change the 

behavior of fishermen who harvest vermilion snapper, as they are no longer switching target 

species based on defined seasons for red snapper and/or grouper-tilefish. The reader should 

interpret data from 2010 with caution due to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill that resulted in large 

closure areas, significantly reducing landings for many Gulf fisheries. Large parts of the Gulf of 

Mexico, including state and federal waters, were closed to fishing during May through November 

2010. Therefore, 2010 values should be considered anomalous fishing years and differences in 

those years would not signify changes for the fishery. 

0.86

0.82 0.83 0.84 0.84

0.81

0.84 0.83

0.79 0.77

0.80

0.00

0.10

0.20

0.30

0.40

0.50

0.60

0.70

0.80

0.90

1.00

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Gini coefficient

Year
164

Time Trends in Non-Catch Share Fisheries

This report includes indicators of performance for 13 U.S. fisheries managed using a variety of 

controls exclusive of catch shares. Two fisheries (Atlantic Scallops and Monkfish) are managed by 

the New England Fishery Management Council; one (Vermillion Snapper) is managed by the Gulf 

of Mexico Fishery Management Council; five (Albacore, Swordfish, Sardines, Squid, and Pacific 

Salmon are managed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council; three (American Samoa 

Longline, Hawaiʻi Longline, and Hawaiʻi Bottomfish) are managed by the Pacific Islands Fishery 

Management Council; and two (Weathervane Scallops and Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish) are 

managed by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. All but three of the 13 fisheries are 

limited entry fisheries. Only the Pacific Coast Albacore, Pacific Coast Sardine, and the Hawaiʻi

Bottomfish fisheries were open-access as of calendar year 2012. 

Each fishery described in this report has different management objectives, different regulatory 

frameworks, and markedly different operational characteristics. Furthermore, there are 

substantial differences in fishery size (landings, revenues, numbers of vessels, etc.) across 

regions and fisheries. While constructing statistical models to explain trends in any particular 

fishery would be a worthwhile endeavor, the interest here is in detecting whether there are any 

positive or negative trends in performance indicators that are common to multiple fisheries, and 

making inferences about such shared trends. Given the differences among fisheries, making any 

direct comparison of performance trends across fisheries is complicated, except in terms of 

direction of change.

For this purpose, we calculated Spearman rank-order correlation coefficients between values of 

performance indicators and time. The Spearman correlation coefficient is calculated by rank 

ordering pairs of variables. The resulting correlation coefficient is less sensitive to outliers 

because it is based on rank order rather than magnitude. Unlike the Pearson correlation 

coefficient which detects linear relationships, the Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient 

detects any monotonic relationship between two variables. Last, the Spearman rank-order

correlation is non-parametric and does not require any assumptions about underlying 

distributions. A Spearman correlation coefficient greater than or equal to 0.5 is associated with 

an upward trend through time, whereas a correlation coefficient less than or equal to –0.5 is 

indicative of a downward time trend. A significance level of 0.10 was selected to determine 

whether or not a time trend was statistically significant.

It is important to keep in mind that correlation coefficients may not detect cyclical or shorterterm trends. That is, correlations with time will be statistically significant only if the association 

with time is consistently up or down. This does not necessarily mean that year-to-year changes 

are always up or down, only that annual changes fluctuate around a distinct trend. Simple 

correlation coefficients also do not indicate the presence or absence of causal relationships such 

as any underlying structural reasons for change, nor do they reveal more complex relationships 

that may exist among performance indicators. 

As noted in prior sections of this report, data were not available for all indicators for all fisheries. 

In several cases, effort data such as the number of trips or days at sea were not available while 

in others, revenues from other species were either not available or not reported because they 

were so low. With the exception of trends in quota, the discussion to follow first summarizes 

trends for fishery indicators that are available for all fisheries (landings, fishery species revenue, 
165

average price, active vessels, fishery revenue per vessel, and the Gini coefficient), followed by 

trends in indicators for fisheries for which trip and/or days at sea data were available. Trends in 

indicators for fisheries where data on revenue from other species were available are summarized 

last. For purposes of reporting, correlation coefficients that are not statistically significant at the 

10% level of significance are denoted by white bars in all figures while statistically significant 

assocaiations are denoted in blue. As was the case throughout this report, time trends for prices 

and revenues were estimated for inflation-adjusted 2010 dollars.

1. Trends in Aggregate Quotas

Where required, Annual Catch Limits (ACLs) consistent with the 2006 reauthorization of the 

Magnuson-Stevens Act were not formally specified in any of the 13 fisheries covered in this 

report until 2010 or 2011. However, prior to the 2006 reauthorization, several of the 13 fisheries 

covered in this report were managed with some form of catch limit either in the form of a quota, 

harvest guideline, or target total allowable catch (TTAC). Specifically, prior to 2010, six of the 13 

fisheries were quota-managed through a specified quota or guideline harvest level while two

others were managed by catch targets that did not necessarily result in any in-season closures. 

Of these eight fisheries, three exhibited an increasing trend (a statistically significant correlation

coefficient of 0.5 or greater; blue bars in Figure 140). These fisheries included Limited Access 

Atlantic Sea Scallops, Hawaiʻi Bottomfish, and Hawaiʻi Longline. Five fisheries exhibited a 

decreasing trend (a statistically significant correlation coefficient less than or equal to -0.5). 

These fisheries included Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish, Monkfish, West Coast Salmon Troll, West

Coast Sardines, and Weathervane scallops). 

Figure 140. Correlation Coefficients between aggregate fishery species quota and time.

-0.91 -0.88

-0.57 -0.62

0.91 0.97

-0.59

1.00

-1.00

-0.80

-0.60

-0.40

-0.20

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient
166

Evaluation of whether quotas, specified as a target, harvest guideline, or ACLs, have been 

exceeded is complicated by the fact that implementation of these management instruments 

across fisheries have changed over time. Furthermore, in several fisheries including Gulf of 

Alaska Other Rockfish, Hawaiʻi Longline, West Coast Salmon Troll, Monkfish, and Weathervane 

Scallops separate limits on catch apply to multiple management units in the fishery. This means 

that a catch limit or quota on one species or sub-component of a fishery may be exceeded while 

the aggregate quota has not. 

In 2003, five fisheries were managed with some form of catch limit (Figure 141). Of these, there 

were two (West Coast Sardines and West Coast Salmon Troll) where quotas were not exceeded 

and three in which at least one catch limit was exceeded. These included overages in one or 

more subcomponents of the Monkfish, Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish, and the Weathervane 

Scallop fisheries (however, the aggregate combined quotas for all stocks in each of these 

fisheries were not exceeded). From 2003 to 2008, the number of occasions where quotas for at 

least one stock was exceeded was at least equal to the number of fisheries with no overages. In 

2009, overages occurred in three of eight fisheries subject to some form of catch limit. Fisheries 

with overages included Limited Access Atlantic Sea Scallops, Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish, and 

Weathervane Scallops. By 2012, quotas or ACLs had been implemented in nine of the thirteen 

fisheries included in this report. Of these nine fisheries, overages occurred in only the one or 

more subcomponents of the Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish and of the Weathervane Scallop 

fisheries. In neither case were the aggregate quotas for all stocks exceeded. 

Figure 141. Annual number of fisheries managed with a catch limit, number of fisheries in which 

one or more catch limits was exceeded, and number of fisheries in which no catch limit was 

exceeded.

3 3

4

3

5 5

3

4

2 2

2

3

2

3

3

2

5

4

6

7

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Number of fisheries

Year

Catch Exceeded Catch not Exceeded
167

2. Indicator Trends (All Fisheries)

Spearman rank correlation coefficients between aggregate landings of fishery species and time 

were not statistically significant in seven of the 13 fisheries included in this report (Figure 142; 

blue bars denote statistically significant, white bars denote not statistically significance). This 

does not necessarily mean that landings in these fisheries were relatively stable or did not 

exhibit any meaningful short term trends, only that they did not exhibit a consistent increasing 

or decreasing trend. Of the six fisheries that did exhibit a statistically significant trend, landings 

were declining in four fisheries and increasing in two. Of those fisheries with a downward trend in 

landings, in the Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish, Monkfish, West Coast Swordfish and Pacific Coast 

Salmon Troll Fisheries also displayed deceasing trends in catch limits. The upward trend in 

Hawaiʻi Longline Fishery landings is similarly consistent with that fishery’s upward trend in 

aggregate quota. Although the statistical test for time trends in landings in the Atlantic Sea 

Scallop, Hawaiʻi Bottomfish, and Weathervane Scallop Fisheries failed to produce significant 

results, we note that the signs of the coefficients were consistent with the direction of change in 

quota over time in these fisheries.

Figure 142. Correlation coefficients between aggregate fishery species landing and time.

Revenue from fishery species exhibited a statistically significant correlation with time in nine of 

the 13 fisheries included in this report (Figure 143; blue bars denote statistically significant, 

white bars denote not statistically significancant). Of these nine, the majority (5) exhibited an 

increasing trend, while four (American Samoa Longline, Monkfish, West Coast Salmon Troll, and 

West Coast Swordfish) show downward trends. 

A statistically significant positive correlation between average price and time was evident for nine

fisheries and was positive in all cases (Figure 144; blue bars denote statistically significant, white 

-0.47

-0.88

-0.68

-0.25

0.60

-0.01

-0.57

0.85

0.35

-0.43

-0.91

0.20

0.35

-1.00

-0.80

-0.60

-0.40

-0.20

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient
168

bars denote not statistically significant). The correlation between average price and time was 

found to be positive but not statistically significant in the West Coast Squid fishery while the 

correlation between price and time was negative in the American Samoa Longline, Gulf of Mexico 

Vermillion Snapper, and the West Coast Swordfish fishery. In general, a statistically significant 

time trend does not necessarily mean that prices are strictly increasing or decreasing as the 

correlation coefficient for landings and average price was negative for all but two fisheries,

indicating a mostly inverse relationship between prices and landings: prices increase when 

landings decline and vice versa (Figure 145; blue bars denote statistically significant, white bars 

denote not statistically significant).

Figure 143. Correlation coefficients between fishery species revenue and time.

0.42

0.53

-0.54

-0.04

0.80

0.64

-0.90

0.88

0.44

-0.55

-0.83

0.77

0.65

-1.00

-0.80

-0.60

-0.40

-0.20

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient
169

Figure 144. Correlation coefficients between average fishery species price and time.

Figure 145. Correlation coefficients between aggregate fishery species landings and average 

price.

0.72

0.81

0.63

0.69

0.08

0.80

-0.50

0.87

0.76

-0.38

0.95

0.77

-0.15

-1.00

-0.80

-0.60

-0.40

-0.20

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient

-0.18

-0.78 -0.79

-0.40

-0.47

-0.22 -0.12

0.92

-0.13

-0.44

-0.95

0.49

-0.78

-1.00

-0.80

-0.60

-0.40

-0.20

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient
170

The correlation coefficient between the number of active vessels and time was negative in nine of 

13 fisheries of which the negative correlation coefficient was statistically significant in seven

fisheries (Figure 146; blue bars denote statistically significant, white bars denote not statistically 

significant). Of the fourisheries exhibiting positive correlations, only the correlation coefficient in 

the Hawaiʻi Longline fishery was statistically significant.

Correlation coefficients for revenue per vessel with time were positive for eight fisheries, of 

which, all but one were statistically significant (Figure 147; blue bars denote statistically 

significant, white bars denote not statistically significant). Of the five fisheries with a negative 

correlation between fishery revenue per vessel and time, the correlation coefficient was

statistically significant in the fisheries for Monkfish, West Coast Salmon Troll, and West Coast 

Swordfish. Among active vessels the relative distribution of fishery species revenue as measured 

by the Gini coefficient tended to become more even as estimated correlation coefficients were 

negative in nine of the 13 fisheries (Figure 148; blue bars denote statistically significant, white 

bars denote not statistically significant). This relationship was statistically significant in five 

fisheries. The correlation coefficient was positive in four fisheries, but was statistically significant 

in only two.

Figure 146. Correlation coefficients between active vessels and time.

-0.55

-0.33

-0.68

0.36

-0.57

-0.14

-0.82

0.69

0.26

-0.96 -0.97

0.46

-0.77

-1.00

-0.80

-0.60

-0.40

-0.20

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient
171

Figure 147. Correlation coefficients between fishery species revenue per vessel and time.

Figure 148. Correlation coefficients between for the Gini coefficient and time.

0.68

0.53

-0.56

-0.12

0.86 0.86

-0.89

0.75

-0.30

0.60

-0.62

0.77 0.78

-1.00

-0.80

-0.60

-0.40

-0.20

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient

-0.92

0.73

0.11

-0.15

-0.81

0.05

0.54

-0.29

-0.72 -0.71

-0.32 -0.31

-0.69

-1.00

-0.80

-0.60

-0.40

-0.20

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient
172

3. Indicator Trends (Fisheries with Trip and Days at Sea Data)

Data on the number of trips taken were available for 11 of the 13 fisheries included in this 

report. Of these, the correlation between the annual number of trips and time was not significant 

in four fisheries (West Coast Squid, West Coast Albacore, Hawaiʻi Longline, and Hawaiʻi

Bottomfish; Figure 149; blue bars denote statistically significant, white bars denote not 

statistically significant). For all of the remaining seven isheries, the numbers of trips exhibited a 

statistically significant negative correlation coefficient. This finding is consistent with the general 

decline in the number of active vessels (Figure 146) as most cross-correlation coefficients 

between active vessels and trips were positive and statistically significant (Figure 150; blue bars 

denote statistically significant, white bars denote not statistically significant).

Figure 149. Correlation coefficients between number of trips in the fishery and time.

-0.68

-0.80

0.48

0.10

-0.72

0.29

0.36

-0.90 -0.85 -0.83

-0.71

-1.00

-0.80

-0.60

-0.40

-0.20

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient
173

Figure 150. Cross-correlation coefficients between active vessels and trips.

Both the West Coast Salmon Troll and West Coast Sardine fisheries operate as day fisheries but 

data were not available to estimate the number of days absent on fishing trips. The West Coast 

Squid fishery is also primarily a day fishery, but data were available to estimate total fishing 

time. Data on trip duration were not available for the West Coast Swordfish fishery. This leaves 

eight fisheries for which days absent data were available. For these fisheries, the correlation 

between total days absent in the fishery and time was positive and statistically significant in two

fisheries (West Coast Albacore, and Hawaiʻi Longline) and was negative and statistically 

significant in three fisheries (American Samoa Longline, Limited Access Atlantic Sea Scallops, 

and Monkfish; Figure 151; blue bars denote statistically significant, white bars denote not 

statistically significant). On average, the duration of each fishing trip has been trending upward 

as correlation coefficients for five of the six fisheries with a statistically significant time trend 

were positive (Figure 152; blue bars denote statistically significant, white bars denote not 

statistically significant). Only the correlation coefficient for the Monkfish Fishery exhibited a 

statistically significant negative correlation coefficient between average trip duration and time.

0.96

-0.17

0.11

0.95

0.74

0.66

0.79

0.88 0.88

-0.39

0.84

-1.00

-0.80

-0.60

-0.40

-0.20

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient
174

Figure 151. Correlation coefficients between for number of days at sea in the fishery and time.

Figure 152. Correlation coefficients for average trip duration and time.

0.50

0.88

0.82

0.41

-0.67

-0.96

-0.71

-0.20

-1.00

-0.80

-0.60

-0.40

-0.20

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

Squid Abacore Hawai'i

Longline

Hawai'i

Bottomfish

American

Samoa

Longline

Monkfish Atlantic Sea

Scallops

Vermillion

Snapper

Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient

0.56 0.60

0.85

-0.05

0.78

-0.73

0.49

0.82

-1.00

-0.80

-0.60

-0.40

-0.20

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

Squid Abacore Hawai'i

Longline

Hawai'i

Bottomfish

American

Samoa

Longline

Monkfish Atlantic Sea

Scallops

Vermillion

Snapper

Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient
175

The correlation between time and both fishery species revenue per trip (Figure 153; blue bars 

denote statistically significant, white bars denote not statistically significant) and fishery revenue 

per day at sea (Figure 154; blue bars denote statistically significant, white bars denote not 

statistically significant) was positive for most fisheries with a statistically significant correlation 

coefficient. The positive correlation with time is consistent with the general decline in number of 

trips coupled with a general increase in fishery revenue resulting in higher per trip revenue. 

Figure 153. Correlation coefficients between fishery revenue per trip and time.

0.09

0.84

0.92

0.67

-0.89

0.86

-0.15

0.77

-0.53

0.89

0.74

-1.00

-0.80

-0.60

-0.40

-0.20

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient
176

Figure 154. Correlation coefficients between fishery species revenue per day at sea and time.

4. Trends in Revenue Indicators for Fisheries with Non-Fishery Species Revenue

Each of the 13 fisheries included in this report were defined according to a set of species 

considered to be part of the fishery. In most of these fisheries, at least some revenue may be 

earned from other species on trips in the fishery. However, in cases where trip-level data were 

not available (Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish and Weathervane Scallop), revenues from other 

species could not be estimated, whereas in others, non-fishery revenues were so low that they 

were not reported (West Coast Squid, Hawaiʻi Longline, and American Samoa Longline). Even for 

fisheries where revenue from other species was reported, the levels were so low that trends in 

total revenue are indistinguishable from trends in fishery species revenue. This was the case for 

both West Coast Albacore and Limited Access Atlantic Sea Scallop, where revenues from 

incidentally harvested species were less than 1% of total revenue earned. Thus, trends in 

revenue are here examined for only five fisheries with non-fishery species revenue: Gulf of 

Mexico Vermilion Snapper, Hawaiʻi Bottomfish, Monkfish, West Coast Salmon Troll, and West 

Coast Swordfish.

Total revenue exhibited no statistically significant correlation with time in either the Monkfish or 

the Gulf of Mexico Vermillion Snapper fishery (Figure 155; blue bars denote statistically 

significant, white bars denote not statistically significant). A statistically significant negative 

correlation with time was evident in both the West Coast Salmon Troll and West Coast Swordfish 

fisheries, whereas a positive correlation with time was evident in the Hawaiʻi Bottomfish fishery. 

The relative importance of non-fishery revenue in total earnings has been trending upward as 

the correlation between time and fishery species revenue share in total revenue exhibits a 

statistically significant negative trend for all but Gulf of Mexico Vermillion Snapper (Figure 156; 

blue bars denote statistically significant, white bars denote not statistically significant). This 

0.91

-0.46

0.52

-0.35

-0.22

-0.13

0.89

0.67

-1.00

-0.80

-0.60

-0.40

-0.20

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

Squid Abacore Hawai'i

Longline

Hawai'i

Bottomfish

American

Samoa

Longline

Monkfish Atlantic Sea

Scallops

Vermillion

Snapper

Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient
177

tendency may be due to increased targeting of other species in the fishery due to management 

changes or to higher prices received for non-fishery species. In the case of the West Coast 

Swordfish Fishery, bycatch provisions for protected species have led to increased reliance on 

other species. 

Figure 155. Correlation coefficients between total revenue and time.

-0.54

-0.92

0.78

-0.35

0.08

-1.00

-0.80

-0.60

-0.40

-0.20

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

Salmon Troll Swordfish Hawai'i Bottomfish Monkfish Vermillion Snapper

Spearman rank-order correlation coefficent
178

Figure 156. Correlation coefficients between fishery species revenue share and time.

The correlation between total revenue per vessel and time was statistically significant in only the 

West Coast Swordfish and Gulf of Mexico Vermilion Snapper Fisheries (Figure 157; blue bars 

denote statistically significant, white bars denote not statistically significant). The Swordfish 

Fishery showed a decreasing trend in total revenue per vessel, while the trend in the Vermilion 

Snapper Fishery was upward.

Statistically significant correlations were found between time and total revenue per trip in four

fisheries; they were positive in the Gulf of Mexico Vermillion Snapper, Hawaiʻi Bottomfish, and 

Monkfish Fisheries, and negative in the West Coast Swordfish Fishery (Figure 158; blue bars 

denote statistically significant, white bars denote not statistically significant). The correlation with 

time of estimated total revenue per day was statistically significant and positive for all three 

fisheries (Gulf of Mexico Vermillion Snapper, Hawaiʻi Bottomfish, and Monkfish) for which both 

total revenue and days absent data were available (Figure 159; blue bars denote statistically 

significant, white bars denote not statistically significant).

-0.64

-0.95 -0.95

-0.81

0.50

-1.00

-0.80

-0.60

-0.40

-0.20

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

Salmon Troll Swordfish Hawai'i Bottomfish Monkfish Vermillion Snapper

Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient
179

Figure 157. Correlation coefficients between total revenue per vessel and time.

Figure 158. Correlation coefficients between total revenue per trip and time.

-0.51

-0.85

0.19

0.47

0.77

-1.00

-0.80

-0.60

-0.40

-0.20

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

Salmon Troll Swordfish Hawai'i Bottomfish Monkfish Vermillion Snapper

Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient

-0.51

-0.85

0.19

0.47

0.77

-1.00

-0.80

-0.60

-0.40

-0.20

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

Salmon Troll Swordfish Hawai'i Bottomfish Monkfish Vermillion Snapper

Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient
180

Figure 159. Correlation coefficients between total revenue per day and time.

0.69

0.89 0.88

-1.00

-0.80

-0.60

-0.40

-0.20

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

Hawai'i Bottomfish Monkfish Vermillion Snapper

Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient
181

Conclusions

Comparisons of the general direction of change as measured by correlations with time and 

statistical significance of these correlations in performance indicators reveals several shared 

trends across fisheries. The correlation with time in average price was statistically significant in 

69% of all fisheries and was positive in nine instances (Table 9). The correlation with time in 

active vessels was significant in 62% of fisheries and was negative in seven of the eight fisheries 

with a statistically significant correlation coefficient. The correlation coefficient with time and 

fishery revenue per vessel was significant in 77% of fisheries and was positive for seven of the 

nine fisheries with significant correlation coefficients with time. A negative correlation with time 

in the number of trips was evident in all fisheries with statistically significant correlation 

coefficients, whereas correlation with time in fishery revenue per trip was positive seven of the 

nine fisheries with statistically significant correlation coefficients.

Evidence of shared correlations with time for both relative distribution of fishery revenue shares 

as measured by the Gini coefficient and aggregate fishery landings were less definitive. The 

correlation with time for the Gini coefficient was statistically significant for 54% of all fisheries 

and exhibited a negative correlation in five fisheries, whereas the Gini coefficient was positively 

correlated with time in two fisheries. Overall, there appears to be a general trend toward less 

difference among vessels in terms of how fishery revenues are distributed. The correlation with 

time in aggregate fishery landings was statistically significant in less than half (46%) of the 

fisheries included in this report. Of the fisheries with statistically significant correlation 

coefficients, fourexhibited downward (negative correlations) trends and two exhibited an upward

(positive correlation coefficient) trend. Considering correlations between time and landings, the 

number of fisheries where correlations were not statistically significant was about evenly split 

between fisheries with positive correlations (3) and fisheries with negative correlations (4). 

Table 9. Summary of Direction of Change and Statistical Significance by Performance 

Indicator.

Direction of Change in Time Trend and Statistical Significance

Indicator1

Not 

Significant 

Negative

Not 

Significant 

Positive

Percent 

Significant2

Significant 

Negative

Significant

Positive

Fishery Landings (Figure 142) 4 3 46% 4 2

Fishery Revenue (Figure 143) 1 3 69% 4 5

Price (Figure 144) 3 1 69% 0 9

Active Vessels (Figure 146) 2 3 62% 7 1

Revenue per Vessel (Figure 147) 2 1 77% 3 7

Gini Coefficient (Figure 148) 4 2 54% 5 2

Trips (Figure 149) 0 4 64% 7 0

Revenue per Trip (Figure 153) 1 1 82% 2 7

1 Parentheses denote figure number.

2 Center column respresents the % of all 13 fisheries with statistically significant correlation using 0.10 

level of significance.
182

Literature Cited

Brinson, A.A. and E.M. Thunberg. 2013. The Economic Performance of U.S. Catch Share 

Programs. U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA Technical Memorandom NMFS-F/SPO-133a, 159 

p. Available at: https://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/economics/fisheries/commercial/catch-shareprogram/index

North Pacific Fishery Management Council. 2011. Groundfish Species Profiles, prepared by David 

Witherell and Megan Peterson. Available at: http://www.npfmc.org/wpcontent/PDFdocuments/resources/Species_Profiles2011.pdf
183

Appendix A: Spearman Rank-Order Correlation Coefficients and 

Significance

Spearman rank-order correlation coefficients were calculated using the CORR procedure in SAS 

Version 9 with the Spearman option. The resulting correlation coefficients and their level of 

significance are reported in Table A 1. With two exceptions, all reported correlation coefficients 

are for the correlation between the performance indicator in each column heading in Table A 1

and time. The two exceptions are; the cross correlation between average price and landed 

quantities and the cross correlation between and number of active vessels and trips.
184

Table A 1. Spearman Rank-Order Correlation Coefficients for Non-Catch Share Performance Indicators

Fishery Quota

Fishery 

Species 

Landings

Fishery 

Species 

Revenue

Average 

Price

Landings*

Price

Active 

Vessels

Fishery 

Species 

Revenue 

per 

Vessels

Gini 

Coefficient

Weathervane Scallops -0.91 -0.47 0.42 0.72 -0.18 -0.55 0.68 -0.92

(0.0002)a(0.1739) (0.2291) (0.0186) (0.6272) (0.0992) (0.0289) (0.0004)

GOA Other Rockfish -0.88 -0.88 0.53 0.81 -0.78 -0.33 0.53 0.73

(0.0008) (0.0008) (0.1173) (0.0049) (0.0075) (0.3544) (0.1173) (0.0174)

West Coast Swordfish NAb-0.57 -0.90 -0.50 -0.12 -0.82 -0.89 0.54

(0.0655) (0.0002) (0.1173) (0.7293) (0.0021) (0.0002) (0.0878)

West Coast Squid NA 0.60 0.80 0.08 -0.47 -0.57 0.86 -0.81

(0.0510) (0.0031) (0.8110) (0.1420) (0.0655) (0.0006) (0.0028)

West Coast Sardines -0.62 -0.25 -0.04 0.69 -0.40 0.36 -0.12 -0.15

(0.0426) (0.4500) (0.9155) (0.0186) (0.2229) (0.2835) (0.7293) (0.6561)

West Coast Albacore NA -0.01 0.64 0.80 -0.22 -0.14 0.86 0.05

(0.9788) (0.0353) (0.0031) (0.5192) (0.6893) (0.0006) (0.8904)

West Coast Salmon Troll -0.57 -0.68 -0.54 0.63 -0.79 -0.68 -0.56 0.11

(0.0655) (0.0208) (0.0890) (0.0388) (0.0037) (0.0208) (0.0710) (0.7564)

Monkfish -0.59 -0.91 -0.83 0.95 -0.95 -0.97 -0.62 -0.32

(0.0549) (0.0001) (0.0017) (<.0001) (<.0001) (<.0001) (0.0426) (0.3418)

Limited Access Atlantic 

Sea Scallops 1.00 0.20 0.77 0.77 0.49 0.46 0.77 -0.31

(<.0001) (0.7040) (0.0724) (0.0724) (0.3287) (0.3641) (0.0724) (0.5518)

HI Longline 0.91 0.85 0.88 0.87 0.92 0.69 0.75 -0.29

(0.0015) (0.0010) (0.0003) (0.0005) (<.0001) (0.0176) (0.0085) (0.3829)

AMSAM Longline NA -0.43 -0.55 -0.38 -0.44 -0.96 0.60 -0.71

(0.2145) (0.0984) (0.2763) (0.2004) (<.0001) (0.0667) (0.0211)

HI Bottomfish 0.97 0.35 0.44 0.76 -0.13 0.26 -0.30 -0.72

(0.0012) (0.2981) (0.1797) (0.0062) (0.7092) (0.4334) (0.3701) (0.0119)

Gulf of Mexico Vermillion 

Snapper NA 0.35 0.65 -0.15 -0.78 -0.77 0.78 -0.69

(0.2981) (0.0320) (0.6500) (0.0045) (0.0053) (0.0045) (0.0200)

a Numbers in parentheses denotes level of statistical significance

b NA denotes not applicable
185

Table A 1 (Continued). Spearman Rank-Order Correlation Coefficients for Non-Catch Share Performance Indicators

Fishery

Trips in 

the 

Fishery

Active 

Vessels*Trips

Days 

Absent 

in the 

Fishery

Average 

Trip 

Length

Fishery 

Species 

Revenue 

per Trip

Fishery 

Species 

Revenue 

per Day

Total 

Revenue 

in the 

Fishery

Fishery 

Species 

Revenue 

Share

Total 

Revenue 

per 

Vessel

Total 

Revenue 

per Trip

Total 

Revenue 

per Day

West Coast 

Swordfish -0.72 0.74 NAb NA -0.89 NA -0.92 -0.95 -0.85 -0.88 NA

(0.0128)

a

(0.0099) (0.0002) (<.0001) (<.0001) (0.0010) (0.0003)

West Coast Squid 0.48 0.11 0.50 0.56 0.92 0.91 NA NA NA NA NA

(0.0031) (0.7495) (0.1173) (0.0710) (<.0001) (0.0001)

West Coast 

Sardines -0.80 -0.17 NA NA 0.84 NA NA NA NA NA NA

(0.0031) (0.6203) (0.0013)

West Coast 

Albacore 0.10 0.95 0.88 0.60 0.67 -0.46 NA NA NA NA NA

(0.7699) (<.0001) (0.0003) (0.0510) (0.0233) (0.1509)

West Coast Salmon

Troll -0.68 0.96 NA NA 0.09 NA -0.54 -0.64 -0.51 0.12 NA

(0.0208) (<.0001) (0.7904) (0.0890) (0.0353) (0.1097) (0.7293)

Monkfish -0.85 0.88 -0.96 -0.73 -0.53 -0.13 -0.35 -0.81 0.47 0.54 0.89

(0.0008) (0.0003) (<.0001) (0.0112) (0.0956) (0.7092) (0.2847) (0.0026) (0.1420) (0.0890) (0.0002)

Limited Access 

Atlantic Sea 

Scallops -0.83 -0.39 -0.71 0.49 0.89 0.89 NA NA NA NA NA

(0.0416) (0.4387) (0.1108) (0.3287) (0.0188) (0.0188)

HI Longline 0.29 0.66 0.82 0.85 0.86 0.52 NA NA NA NA NA

(0.3855) (0.0279) (0.0021) (0.0010) (0.0006) (0.1025)

AMSAM Longline -0.90 0.88 -0.67 0.78 0.77 -0.22 NA NA NA NA NA

(0.0003) (0.0007) (0.0330) (0.0075) (0.0075) (0.5334)

HI Bottomfish 0.36 0.79 0.41 -0.05 -0.15 -0.35 0.78 -0.95 0.19 0.61 0.69

(0.2716) (0.0037) (0.2115) (0.8734) (0.6500) (0.2981) (0.0045) (<.0001) (0.5739) (0.0467) (0.0186)

Gulf of Mexico 

Vermillion Snapper -0.71 0.84 -0.20 0.82 0.74 0.67 0.08 0.50 0.77 0.89 0.88

(0.0146) (0.0013) (0.5554) (0.0021) (0.0098) (0.0233) (0.8110) (0.1173) (0.0053) (0.0002) (0.0003)

a Numbers in parentheses denotes level of statistical significance

b NA denotes not applicable
186

Appendix B: Fishery Performance Indicator Data

Data for the performance indicators used in this report are reported in this Appendix. The tables 

include base data for each indicator. All revenue data are reported in constant 2010 dollars using 

the GDP implicit price deflator. The derived values for performance indicators are not included in 

the appendix since they may be readily replicated from the base data. The following provides 

general notes about the data as well as notes about specific tables and their use. In all tables 

missing cells mean that indicator data were not available for that program/year.

Reporting Years

 Data for Weathervane scallops and Gulf of Alaska Other Rockfish programs are reported 

for 2003-2012; 2002 data were not available.

 Data for the American Samoa Longline are reported for 2002-2011; 2012 data were not 

available.

 Data for the Limited Access DAS Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery are reported for 2007-2012 

due to a change in data collection system implemented to enable monitoring of the 

General Category Scallop IFQ program.

Pacific Coast Salmon

 Pacific coast salmon landings are reported in both numbers of fish and in total gutted 

weight (see columns 8 and 9, respectively in Table B 2). The former can be used in 

conjunction with reported numbers of fish in the quota table (see column 8 of Table B 1) 

to compute the derived indicator for quota utilization. The latter can be used in 

conjunction with the total species revenue table (see column 8 of Table B 8) to compute 

the derived indicator for average price.

Derived Indicators

 Average price can be calculated by dividing the data reported in Table B 8 by data 

reported in Table B 2.

 Fishery species revenue per vessel can be calculated by dividing the data reported in 

Table B 8 by data reported in Table B 4.

 Fishery species revenue per trip can be calculated by dividing the data reported in Table 

B 8 by data reported in Table B 5.

 Fishery species revenue per day absent can be calculated by dividing the data reported in 

Table B 8 by the data reported in Table B 6.

 Total revenue from fishery species and non-fishery species can be calculated as the sum 

of the data reported in Table B 8 and the data reported in Table B 9.

 Total revenue per vessel can be calculated as the sum of the data reported in Table B 8

and Table B 9 divided by the data reported in Table B 4.

 Total Revenue per trip can be calculated as the sum of the data reported in Table B 8 and 

Table B 9 divided by the data reported in Table B 5.

 Total revenue per day absent can be calculated as the sum of the data reported in Table 

B 8 and Table B 9 divided by the data reported in Table B 6.
187

Table B 1. Indicator Data for Quota

Year

Weathervane 

Scallops

(lbs Meat 

Weight)

GOA 

Other 

Rockfish

(MT)

West 

Coast 

Swordfish

West 

Coast 

Squid

West 

Coast 

Sardines

(MT)

West 

Coast 

Albacore

West 

Coast 

Salmon

Troll

(Numbers)

Monkfish

(lbs 

Whole 

Weight)

Limited 

Access 

Atlantic 

Sea 

Scallops

(lbs Meat 

Weight)

HI 

Longline

(lbs 

Whole 

Weight)

AMSAM 

Longline

HI 

Bottomfish

(lbs Whole 

Weight)

Gulf of

Mexico 

Vermillion 

Snapper

(lbs 

Gutted 

Weight)

2002 118442 121000 43200000

2003 640000 29680 110908 163600 61550000

2004 670000 27058 122747 87374 52337704 330693

2005 602000 27999 136179 75450 50338148 330693

2006 540000 30713 118937 64800 25141516 330693

2007 540000 17162 152564 62650 22266688 39472500 1102311 178000

2008 533000 16669 89093 23500 22266688 39960990 241000

2009 549000 16392 66932 75340 22266688 41310219 9398306 254050

2010 527400 16820 72039 93825 22266688 43292174 9398306 254050

2011 495900 16368 50526 49680 32582118 55014180 9398306 325000

2012 417500 14628 109409 70603 32582118 58503960 9398306 325000 3081081

Table B 2. Indicator Data for Fishery Species Landings

Year

Weathervane 

Scallops

(lbs Meat 

Weight)

GOA 

Other 

Rockfish

(MT)

West 

Coast 

Swordfish

West 

Coast 

Squid

West 

Coast 

Sardines

(MT)

West 

Coast 

Albacore

West 

Coast 

Salmon

Troll

(Numbers)

Monkfish

(lbs 

Whole 

Weight)

Limited 

Access 

Atlantic 

Sea 

Scallops

(lbs 

Meat 

Weight)

HI 

Longline

(lbs 

Whole 

Weight)

AMSAM 

Longline

HI 

Bottomfish

(lbs Whole 

Weight)

Gulf of

Mexico 

Vermillion 

Snapper

(lbs 

Gutted 

Weight)

Weathervane 

Scallops

(lbs Meat

Weight)

2002 1725 72880 96897 9999 120849 774,207 48467538 17248170 15644755 224996 1852365

2003 492000 19840 2135 45068 71923 16611 91500 902,069 58300922 17636817 11539319 231628 2217581

2004 425477 19723 1186 40116 89339 14524 83665 821,298 39629386 18352337 8985597 228263 1935273

2005 525357 19011 297 55755 86464 9028 58640 631,283 43217498 21257592 8770633 207975 1632589

2006 487473 21246 542 49186 86608 12773 52362 124,141 28846232 19961898 11947233 187017 1573884

2007 458313 9685 550 49475 127789 11500 51996 186,877 28000189 50954197 22683355 14155518 193183 2095405

2008 342434 9102 531 38101 87190 11134 16108 16,731 23394931 44663924 23872956 9547692 255929 2412045

2009 488059 9173 409 93107 67084 12270 55034 55,488 18582171 49187096 19829940 10597180 204753 3195418

2010 459759 9172 370 130864 66892 11824 70234 102,762 16506098 50147118 21692223 10769027 265070 1736741

2011 456058 7580 619 121557 46746 10935 36262 132,528 21223612 51974341 24212431 7417818 231421 2589908

2012 417551 7999 403 97644 100407 13873 59699 328,593 20015217 49875593 23915012 240044 2028784
188

Table B 3. Indicator Data for Number of Permits

Year

Weathervane 

Scallops

GOA 

Other 

Rockfish

West 

Coast

Swordfish

West 

Coast

Squid

West 

Coast

Sardines

West 

Coast

Albacore

West 

Coast

Salmon

Troll Monkfish

Limited 

Access 

Atlantic 

Sea 

Scallops

HI 

Longline

AMSAM 

Longline

HI 

Bottomfish

Gulf of 

Mexico

Vermillion 

Snapper

2002 169 144 98 736 2926 726 164 384 1285

2003 9 1718 174 150 91 888 2862 743 164 348 1257

2004 9 1702 164 143 89 780 2852 771 164 358 1228

2005 9 1689 115 127 94 599 2803 767 164 60 373 1193

2006 9 1686 112 142 83 635 2693 781 164 60 332 1173

2007 9 1680 114 109 95 679 2557 782 369 164 60 351 1142

2008 9 1676 116 105 98 523 2556 771 356 164 60 476 1099

2009 9 1669 111 107 110 680 2501 763 354 164 60 459 999

2010 9 1617 104 120 103 651 2418 745 350 164 60 471 969

2011 9 1622 99 130 86 687 2343 720 354 164 60 479 952

2012 9 1640 87 136 99 854 2310 685 356 164 458 917

Table B 4. Indicator Data for Number of Active Vessels

Year

Weathervane 

Scallops

GOA 

Other 

Rockfish

West 

Coast

Swordfish

West 

Coast

Squid

West 

Coast

Sardines

West 

Coast

Albacore

West 

Coast

Salmon

Troll Monkfish

Limited 

Access 

Atlantic 

Sea 

Scallops

HI 

Longline

AMSAM 

Longline

HI 

Bottomfish

Gulf of 

Mexico

Vermillion 

Snapper

2002 155 144 98 736 1251 666 102 60 551 441

2003 4 785 149 150 91 888 1160 683 110 52 360 423

2004 5 731 127 143 89 780 1422 638 126 40 392 457

2005 5 711 73 127 94 599 1336 642 125 36 401 469

2006 4 736 78 142 83 635 918 636 127 28 376 411

2007 4 735 87 109 95 679 1116 610 351 129 29 359 323

2008 4 735 92 105 98 523 224 588 349 129 28 490 348

2009 3 741 87 107 110 680 322 549 348 127 26 479 370

2010 3 734 73 120 103 651 701 496 351 124 26 489 321

2011 4 728 60 130 86 687 880 481 353 129 24 491 343

2012 4 729 41 136 99 854 1093 489 351 129 465 342
189

Table B 5. Indicator Data for Number of Trips on Which Fishery Species Were Landed

Year

Weathervane 

Scallops

GOA 

Other 

Rockfish

West 

Coast

Swordfish

West 

Coast

Squid

West 

Coast

Sardines

West 

Coast

Albacore

West 

Coast

Salmon

Troll Monkfish

Limited 

Access 

Atlantic 

Sea 

Scallops

HI 

Longline

AMSAM 

Longline

HI 

Bottomfish

Gulf of 

Mexico

Vermillion 

Snapper

2002 858 3242 3849 2627 31007 17482 1169 1587 2995 4069

2003 821 3199 2793 3249 30355 17921 1227 924 2880 4294

2004 758 2661 3315 2967 36539 16641 1351 629 2755 4128

2005 694 2973 2882 1932 30079 19204 1552 452 2588 3560

2006 902 2225 2580 2336 14225 17077 1445 347 2387 3243

2007 814 2403 3603 2602 17178 17294 3772 1515 402 2345 2137

2008 775 2101 2605 1973 2032 15549 3035 1474 296 3273 2337

2009 765 4157 2052 2774 3210 14074 3106 1365 213 2798 2710

2010 601 4324 2109 2523 8702 12092 3087 1321 286 3434 2097

2011 445 4725 1235 2697 12785 14553 2912 1390 297 3107 2729

2012 370 4293 2236 3383 22727 9730 2868 1443 2988 2813

Table B 6. Indicator Data for Number of Days Absent on Trips on Which Fishery Species Were Landed

Year

Weathervane 

Scallops

GOA 

Other 

Rockfish

West 

Coast

Swordfish

West 

Coast

Squid

West 

Coast

Sardines

West 

Coast

Albacore

West 

Coast

Salmon

Troll Monkfish

Limited 

Access 

Atlantic 

Sea 

Scallops

HI 

Longline

AMSAM 

Longline

HI 

Bottomfish

Gulf of 

Mexico

Vermillion 

Snapper

2002 3077 3553 4638 42201 22648 9199 3092 14019

2003 3001 2620 4281 44170 23082 8299 3048 14644

2004 2556 3043 6155 38520 25772 6768 2930 14405

2005 2815 2732 9823 40338 28929 6123 2705 13203

2006 2165 2487 9972 33917 28466 6853 2489 12399

2007 2282 3411 8948 35096 28250 32187 8164 2394 10752

2008 2045 2471 8817 32095 22082 32225 6952 3332 11740

2009 3965 1836 11736 29831 24371 31675 6699 2846 13606

2010 4146 1975 10767 26896 24902 31540 6364 3482 10179

2011 4555 1174 10907 28808 21870 31425 5865 3298 13510

2012 4176 2129 34242 18520 21971 32772 3189 14742
190

Table B 7. Indicator Data for Season Length in Calendar Days

Year

Weathervane 

Scallops

GOA 

Other 

Rockfish

West 

Coast

Swordfish

West 

Coast

Squid

West 

Coast

Sardines

West 

Coast

Albacore

West 

Coast

Salmon

Troll Monkfish

Limited 

Access 

Atlantic 

Sea 

Scallops

HI 

Longline

AMSAM 

Longline

HI 

Bottomfish

Gulf of 

Mexico

Vermillion 

Snapper

2002 276 365 365 365 300 365 365 365 365 365

2003 206 109 276 365 365 365 300 365 365 365 365 365

2004 201 23 276 365 365 365 300 365 366 366 366 366

2005 219 28 276 365 365 365 300 365 365 365 365 365

2006 170 100 276 365 365 365 240 365 365 365 365 325

2007 204 169 276 365 365 365 270 365 366 365 365 198 325

2008 105 184 276 365 365 365 210 365 365 366 366 233 366

2009 173 184 276 365 365 365 180 365 365 365 365 231 365

2010 133 184 276 365 365 365 180 365 365 365 365 192 365

2011 176 184 276 365 365 365 240 365 366 365 365 366 365

2012 32 276 365 365 365 240 365 365 366 365 366

Table B 8. Indicator Data for Fishery Species Revenue in 2010 Dollars Using the GDP Implicit Price Deflator

Year

Weathervane 

Scallops

GOA 

Other 

Rockfish

West 

Coast

Swordfish

West 

Coast

Squid

West 

Coast

Sardines

West 

Coast

Albacore

West 

Coast 

Salmon

Troll Monkfish

Limited 

Access 

Atlantic Sea 

Scallops

HI 

Longline

AMSAM 

Longline

HI 

Bottomfish

Gulf of 

Mexico

Vermillion 

Snapper

2002 7619838 21728698 16525220 16931183 16569728 39740254 46274072 16059152 1377804 4374233

2003 3013560 2677999 9160490 29623096 10808462 28464382 23793918 41470557 47284887 12388200 1423741 5365444

2004 2657418 2885665 5491400 22485803 14139328 31091718 32930724 32597811 50470042 10192983 1455033 4598282

2005 4381600 2718434 2484135 34626860 13497713 22846692 24982750 44037876 61107358 9563551 1407181 4017988

2006 4090123 4153151 3215596 28783630 11619713 25334864 9709516 28205514 56892923 12201451 1241031 4309887

2007 2830812 4854815 3653756 30255276 14964318 22351657 12142600 27708684 349897443 64267106 14280923 1229095 5465242

2008 2214952 4828747 2517316 26992275 15803294 29483428 1227175 22026515 316514528 70832512 9428803 1475582 6439714

2009 3201048 3221208 1790291 57564582 13327375 27876259 1531903 17513544 320481982 54948376 10404894 1259501 7831730

2010 3838988 3547192 919500 71160383 12788620 29497572 7151722 19004298 397409508 66727433 10474317 1566279 4633867

2011 4647166 3474250 1213564 65285150 9717114 42187096 9043934 27129126 499883339 76063448 8322083 1435716 7296864

2012 4181649 4593651 1008988 61654806 20617583 43957024 18939409 19476681 463695633 86223888 1580814 5856234
191

Table B 9. Indicator Data for Non-Fishery Species Revenue Reported in 2010 dollars Using the GDP Implicit Price 

Deflator

Year

Weathervane 

Scallops

GOA 

Other 

Rockfish

West 

Coast

Swordfish

West 

Coast

Squid

West 

Coast

Sardines

West 

Coast

Albacore

West 

Coast 

Salmon

Troll Monkfish

Limited 

Access 

Atlantic 

Sea 

Scallops

HI 

Longline

AMSAM 

Longline

HI 

Bottomfish

Gulf of 

Mexico

Vermillion 

Snapper

2002 285607 37760 1022175 202845468 114620 14592523

2003 208342 26885 1558812 210848870 207691 14425101

2004 203745 33100 2598061 206675342 256744 14396656

2005 271639 189621 1425061 223814525 275109 13901966

2006 352009 5957 774048 174942255 271084 12854577

2007 466262 7698 675611 183396348 3485065 225978 11058080

2008 435875 16550 156724 181699430 2159199 374591 12290646

2009 310266 6145 159427 183759197 1584256 567559 10957102

2010 317276 35267 905360 193164918 1107272 486609 11054615

2011 221121 10706 823393 220340396 1262242 584797 15182227

2012 188920 60435 1620488 197806095 1647536 841225 18196175

Table B 10. Indicator Data for the Gini Coefficient

Year

Weathervane 

Scallops

GOA Other 

Rockfish

West 

Coast

Swordfish

West 

Coast

Squid

West 

Coast

Sardines

West 

Coast

Albacore

West 

Coast 

Salmon

Troll Monkfish

Limited 

Access 

Atlantic Sea 

Scallops

HI 

Longline

AMSAM 

Longline

HI 

Bottomfish

Gulf of 

Mexico

Vermillion 

Snapper

2002 0.63 0.67 0.58 0.73 0.56 0.63 0.22 0.58 0.78 0.86

2003 0.50 0.80 0.64 0.67 0.63 0.71 0.60 0.61 0.27 0.50 0.79 0.82

2004 0.66 0.81 0.64 0.72 0.61 0.72 0.57 0.62 0.26 0.53 0.77 0.83

2005 0.56 0.82 0.62 0.66 0.65 0.73 0.54 0.60 0.21 0.47 0.77 0.84

2006 0.35 0.86 0.61 0.69 0.63 0.71 0.54 0.60 0.24 0.30 0.78 0.84

2007 0.33 0.88 0.61 0.66 0.63 0.74 0.56 0.57 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.69 0.81

2008 0.30 0.88 0.61 0.64 0.49 0.72 0.55 0.57 0.18 0.22 0.29 0.73 0.84

2009 0.33 0.83 0.66 0.55 0.58 0.71 0.64 0.59 0.19 0.23 0.27 0.72 0.83

2010 0.27 0.86 0.68 0.55 0.59 0.71 0.63 0.63 0.18 0.23 0.28 0.71 0.79

2011 0.21 0.86 0.73 0.58 0.54 0.72 0.60 0.59 0.18 0.23 0.29 0.76 0.77

2012 0.90 0.72 0.63 0.64 0.74 0.54 0.61 0.19 0.21 0.72 0.80