Climate Change and Location Choice in the Pacific Cod Longline Fishery

Pacific cod is an economically important groundfish that is targeted by trawl, pot, and longline gear in waters off Alaska.  An important sector of the fishery is the “freezer longliner” segment of the Bering Sea which in 2008 accounted for $220 million of the Pacific cod first wholesale value of $435 million. These vessels are catcher/processors, meaning that fish caught are processed and frozen in a factory on board the ship.

In this preliminary work, we explore the change that has occurred in the fishery and the manner in which fishing location choice has changed after cooperatives were created beginning in 2004.  Limited entry management creates race-to-fish incentives in which harvesters maximize the number of fish caught per fishing day. Cooperative management systems allow vessels to choose how fish to maximize the value per pound of fish. We explore differences in the location choice behavior of vessels after cooperatives were formed. We also expect to find differences in the way harvesters respond to climate variation. Warm years in the Bering Sea are characterized by earlier sea ice retreat, a smaller cold pool (water less than 2°C that persists into the summer), and warmer ocean temperatures. This may have impacts on where harvesters choose to fish. Understanding the relationship between fishing location and climate variables is essential in predicting the effects of future warming on the pacific cod fishery. We draw on experiences with Pacific cod and pollock to discuss the importance of economics in integrated climate prediction models for fisheries.