An Incentive Based Approach to Reducing Bycatch in the US Sea Scallop Fishery

Bycatch of yellowtail flounder is a constraint to achieving optimum yield in the US sea scallop fishery.  Since 1999, the scallop fishery has been allocated a catch limit of yellowtail flounder, and exceeding the limit results in costly time/area closures.  Between 2004 and 2009, bycatch closures resulted in economic losses of over $100 million USD.  To address this constraint, we collaborated with the scallop fishing industry to initiate a bycatch avoidance program.  We designed a system to collect information on yellowtail flounder bycatch that expands the use of Vessel Monitoring Service technology and relies upon the fishing fleet to provide data related to catch rates and locations during fishing activities.  We compile the information and provide near real-time bycatch advisories to the vessels.  While providing spatially and temporally-specific data on catch rates of yellowtail flounder, the fleet gains valuable information in order to avoid bycatch “hotspots.”  Vessels utilize the bycatch advisory information to change fishing behavior and move away from areas with high bycatch rates.  The program has nearly 250 participants that voluntarily share catch information throughout the fishing year.  We describe the development, implementation and expansion of the program from 2010 through 2013, including changing fleet and management objectives.