8th International Conference on Shellfish Restoration

Brest, 2 - 5 October 2005

Socio-economic evaluation of the scallop restocking program of the Bay of Brest

Frédérique Alban*, Jean Boncoeur* and Jean-Pierre Carval**

* CEDEM / GdR AMURE, Université de Bretagne Occidentale (France)

** Comité Local des Pêches Maritimes et des Elevages Marins du Nord-Finistère (France)

This paper makes use of the results of a survey realised for the local fisheries committee of

North Finistère, and of the EC funded VALFEZ research project ((QLK5-CT1999-01271).

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The Bay of Brest shellfish fishery

• Inshore winter fishery (October to

March)

• Main species targeted : common

scallop and warty venus

• Gear used : dredges

• small-size fishery : 363 tons of

scallop (< 2% of French landings)

and 131 tons of warty venus (17%

of French landings) in 2003-2004

A quick description of the case-study

Management of the fishery• Limited entry licence system

(regulation of access to the resource mainly based on effort control)

• A restocking program for common scallop (started in the 80’)

The fleet• 70 licensed boats in 2004

• length < 11 metres, with exceptions

• crew : 1 or 2 persons, including skipper

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1. The common scallop restocking program of the bay of Brest• Reasons for the program

• Main features of the program

2. Assessing the impact of the program (2001 survey) • Technical and financial performance

• Contribution to the economic performance of the fleet

• Opinions of fishers

3. Concluding remarks in regards to the recent evolution of the fishery

Plan of the presentation

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1. The common scallop restocking program of the bay

of Brest

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Reasons for the program...

Bay of Brest shellfish fishery : long term evolution of landings, 1949-1990

(source : Local fisheries committee)

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

1949-50 1954-55 1959-60 1964-65 1969-70 1974-75 1979-80 1984-85 1989-90

tons

Common scallop

Other shellfish

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Maturating genitors caught in the bay (3 months)

Spawning and growing larvae in a hatchery (23 days on the average)

Growing post-larvae in a nursery, up to the size of 2 mm. (4 to 6 weeks)

Growing juveniles in a natural protected environnement (cages at sea),

up to 3 cm. (around 9 months)

Sowing juveniles in the bay

Extensive sowing on natural beds Intensive sowing in a rotating reserve

Recruitment and fishing (after 2.5 to 3 years)

Restocking program : operational chain

Main features of the program

Fishing on natural beds :effort control (time limitation)

Fishing in the rotating reserve :output control (individual quota)

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2. Assessing the results of the program (2001 survey)

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Landings of common scallops in the bay of Brest, according to origin (tons)

Source : local fisheries committee

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

1985-86 1987-88 1989-90 1991-92 1993-94 1995-96 1997-98 1999-2000

Aquaculture scallops (intensive sowing in the reserve)

Aquaculture scallops (extensive sowing on natural beds)

Natural scallops

Technical performance

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Individual catch quota on the rotating reserve and individual contribution to the financing of the restocking program

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Quota (kg)

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2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

Contribution (Euros)

Quota

Contribution

From technical performance to economic sustainability

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Tinduff hatchery-nursery : operating costs and subsidies, 1995-2000 (source : Association l'Ecloserie du Tinduff, accounting books)

0

50 000

100 000

150 000

200 000

250 000

300 000

350 000

400 000

450 000

500 000

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

Euros Operating costs

Operating subsidies

A significant move towards cost-recovery

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Impact of the program on the economic situation of

the fleet : a simulation

Method :– Comparison of the actual state of the fleet in 2000-2001

(reference level) with a hypothetical state corresponding to a “no sowing” scenario

Main assumptions of the “no sowing” scenario :

– No sowing of scallop juveniles– No financial contribution of the fishers to the program– Unchanged fishing effort, except for the canceling of effort in

the reserve– Catches per unit of effort proportional to stock biomass– Natural recruitment not affected by variation of SSB due to

sowing of juveniles– No price effect

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Estimated contribution of the program to the economic performanceof the fleet (as a % of the reference level)*

Contribution of

Contribution to :

Intensive sowing in

the rotating reserve

extensive sowing

on natural beds

Total

contribution

of the

program

Global yearly turnover

of the fleet11% 7% 18%

Net activity income of

skippers-owners17% 11% 28%

* 2000-2001 . Source : Alban and Boncoeur, 2003.

Simulation results

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SkippersÕ opinions concerning the bay of Brest shellfishfishery* (winter 2000-2001 field survey)

Boat economic sustainability requires shellfish dredging

in the bay84%

Common scallop is critical to the sustainability of the

bay shellfish fishery71%

I am confident in the future concerning shellfish

dredging in the bay75%

* Frequencies of answers agreeing with the stated opinion. Source : Alban et al., 2001

Opinions of fishers (1)

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Opinions of fishers (2)

SkippersÕ opinions concerning the restocking program *(winter 2000-2001 field survey)

The program is a technical success 75%

The present dual system for juvenile sowing (natural beds

+ reserve) is satisfying81%

I agree with the principle of self-financing of the program

− fully 56%

− partly 42%

I agree with the principle of a contribution based on a

uniform lump sum for all boats75%

* Frequencies of answers agreeing with the stated opinion. Source : Alban et al., 2001Do not

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3. Concluding remarks

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• An original combination of fishing and

aquaculture, in the French context

• A take-off of the program in the 90’, with a

significant move towards cost-recovery

• An important contribution to fishers income

• An innovative and pragmatic management system

(e.g. use of the individual harvest quota on the reserve

as an incentive to increase fishers willingness to pay

for the program)

Several noticeable achievements

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But…

• A questionable financial scheme :

– the lack of long term involvement of fishers in the funding of the program paves the way for short-term opportunistic behaviours.

• Important exogenous factors of uncertainty:

– Presence of a toxic phytoplancton (ASP) in 2004-2005scallop fishing was prohibited during the major part of the season,

• scallop landings dropped by 54% (198 tons instead of 363 tons in2003-2004)

– combined with low landing prices (2004-2005)

� serious threat to the economic viability of the restocking program

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