Economics Program

Purpose and Scope

The PIFSC Economics Program conducts economics monitoring and research in support of living marine resources conservation and management in the NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Region. Studies are conducted in all areas of the Region, including American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Guam, and Hawaii.

The program conducts many kinds of studies to meet economic information needs:

• development of key economic indicators and statistics for fisheries and other marine ecosystem services
• modeling and analysis of economic systems
• evaluation of economic implications and impacts of alternative management policies and regulatory measures for fisheries and other ecosystem services
• other studies in support of management information needs

The research produces a variety of outputs, including peer-reviewed publications, advisory reports, data summaries, economic indicators, and other products.

Research Themes

The program's research studies are organized into several broad themes:

Economic Performance of Commercial Fisheries

A key objective of the Economics Program is to monitor the economic performance of commercial fisheries. Research is focused on long-term collection and analysis of fishery statistics, periodic market surveys, cost-earnings surveys, and other studies.

• Cost-Earnings Study of the Hawaii Bottomfish Fishery
• Cost-Earnings Study of the Hawaii Charter Fishing Fleet
• Cost-Earnings Study of the Hawaii Small Boat Pelagic Fishery
• Cost-Earnings Study of the Mariana Archipelago Small Boat Fisheries
• Cost-Earnings Study of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Bottomfish Fleet
• Economic Performance of the American Samoa Longline Fishery
• Economic Performance of the Hawaii Longline Fishery
• Economics of At-Sea Marine Debris Interactions with the Hawaii Longline Fishery
• Hawaii Fisheries Input-Output Model
• Study of Hawaii Fishing Technology and Fishing Capacity of the Hawaii Longline Fishery
• Trip Costs in Guam and the CNMI

Market Dynamics and Consumer Preferences

An improved understanding of the commercial fishery sector is being fostered through studies of fish supply and demand, consumer choices and behavior, and other market forces.

• A Conjoint Analysis of Preferences for Tasteless Smoke-Treated Ahi Poke (Raw Tuna)
• Consumer Preference for Wild Caught and Farm Raised Seafood
• Hawaii Seafood Retail Price Monitoring
• Price Linkage between Hawaii and Japanese Tuna Sashimi Markets
• Study of Ahi Retail Pricing Behavior
• Study of Demand for Local Tuna Versus Frozen, Imported Tuna
• Study of Market Demand for Bottomfish in Hawaii

Economics of Recreational Fisheries and Ecotourism

Increased attention is being devoted to the understanding the economic contributions of shore-based and boat-based recreational fisheries and marine ecotourism enterprises.

• Choices and Price Determination in Spinner Dolphin Tours in Hawaii
• Economic Valuation of Hawaii Fishing Tournaments
• Economic Valuation of Recreational Fishing in Hawaii

Economic Analysis of Management Options

Several studies have been undertaken to assess the economic implications of alternative management policies and provide managers with a broader foundation for sound management decisions.

• A Prototype Agent-Based Model for Policy Evaluation in Hawaii's Longline Fishery
• Assessments of Excess Fishing Capacity in Select Federally Managed Commercial Fisheries
• Implications of Catch Share Programs for Pacific Islands Fisheries
• Spatial Modeling of the Tradeoff Between Sea Turtle Take Reduction and Economic Returns in the Hawaii Longline Fishery