Abstract:
Selecting ‘optimal’ strategies to manage Oregon ocean shrimp is challenged by uncertain and variable natural mortality,
recruitment, and growth. Fishery management is focused on measures to prevent long-term biological damage to the stock,
to protect age-1 shrimp from overharvest and to sustain long term fishery benefits. Developing harvest strategies such as
mesh size and season dates are complicated by economic factors including differences in output prices as a function of
shrimp size. To address these questions economic information was integrated with biological data to develop static and
dynamic bioeconomic models. Equilibrium biological yield per recruit and revenue per recruit models indicate that a delay in
the season opening of this fishery would generate increased revenue as a result of shrimp growth and size-based price
differentials. Results using a dynamic non-linear programming model indicate targeting fishing intensity later in the season
can generate better yield and revenue. Sensitivity analysis indicates that higher rates of natural mortality will decrease the
benefits of delaying the season opening. Future research will build on this analysis by including selectivity at length,
variable recruitment, harvester and processor costs, and product quality.
