Initial Efforts to Understand Social Changes in the West Coast Groundfish Trawl Fishery Due to a New Catch Shares Management Program

            The management structure of the U.S. West Coast Groundfish Trawl Fishery has been changed from a limited entry program to a catch shares management system.  The transition occurred on January 11, 2011.  In addition to biological and economic goals and changes, social changes are also expected. Scientific literature suggests quota or ‘catch-share’ systems result in social impacts to participants and communities.  In an effort to understand social changes and impacts to this particular fishery, a multi-year research study was developed. 

             The first round of data was collected prior to the implementation of the catch-shares program.  This data aims to generate a baseline description of the fishery.  Data was collected between August 2010 and program implementation in January 2011.  Social scientists administered surveys and conducted interviews in key communities.  All communities were connected to this fishery and distributed along the West Coast.  Scientists worked with any person whom had a connection to the fishery.  Examples of study participants include permit owners, vessel owners, fishermen, fishermen’s wives, crew, processors, harbormasters, equipment suppliers, and net suppliers.   

            Survey data includes demographic information, historical fishing participation, role, quota perspectives, fishery participation, gear utilization, and processing information.  This data was supplemented by interview data that expanded upon survey topics and/or incorporated additional information provided by unique participants.  Preliminary analysis is underway.  Data analysis is multi-fold.  Survey data is being analyzed in SPSS.  Social network analysis is being conducted in UCINET & Netdraw.   Interview data is being analyzed in Atlas.ti.  A further description of the initial baseline data collection effort will be provided and a sample of preliminary results will be presented.

            Future research efforts aim to collect supplemental data post implementation.  The first post implementation data collection period will occur between the first and second year of the program.  During this period of time quota poundage transfers are permissible but quota share and individual bycatch quota are prohibited from be transferred.  Efforts will be made to assess the social change in the system in its infancy.  The next post implementation data collection effort will occur in the third/fourth years of the program once the transfer of quota shares and individual bycatch quota is permitted.  This effort aims to capture any additional social changes to participants or communities as a result of quota transfers.