Fishy Business: The Economics of International Fisheries

Theres something a bit fishy about School of Economics lecturer Dr Stephanie McWhinnie....like the fact her research involves fish. Specifically - sea creatures. Crabs, lobster, whales, sharks, ugly unlovable blob fish...you name it. But Stephanie works in Economics, right? Yes, you read correctly. Stephanie is not a Marine Biologist she is an Economist. Even so, dont let this one get away... Have you ever given consideration to the national identity of the aquatic carcass you just picked clean, bones spread forlornly across your up-market restaurant plate? Was it an Aussie fish? Was it an American fish? Did it once swim in the warm waters off the sparkling shores of New Caledonia? Who cares?! Fish dont. Fish, rather rudely, are not remotely nationalistic or patriotic. In fact, they get around and theyre a bit tarty. Unfortunately, fish also prove right royal little menaces to track because they dont wear labels that declare, Made in China or Product of Taiwan. Fish dont carry waterproof pocket passports, submit to full body security checks upon crossing borders, or give the slightest consideration to travel insurance. Caught in a net or hooked on a line, they dont even stop to ask in which nations waters theyve been caught. They thumb their fishy-noses at such fishy politics, the inconsiderate little rascals. This is where Dr Stephanie McWhinnie casts her economic fishing net wide, trawling to capture fishing data from various national and international sources. She analyses data to make predictions about the future of our worlds fish stocks. Why is this important you might ask? Well, what happens if we fish over-fish our waters out of a certain species? No more Lobster Thermidor thats what! No more Ala Crab Cakes or Salt nPepper Squid......the makings of culinary tragedy! Beyond that, what about the people who value fish for reasons other than the mouth-watering taste of their delectable flesh? What about the recreational aspect of fishing? What about the tourists who flock to viewing vantage points to see the whales, or those who like to frolic with the dolphins? What about indigenous people around the world and their relationship with the sea and its creatures? Finally, what about Biodiversity: ensuring our underwater world survives intact for decades to come. All aforementioned uses for fish are taken into account by fisheries economists. Stephanie didnt originally see herself as an economist. As a bright young kiwi twelve year old she was inspired by a documentary about pioneering women lawyers and promptly decided to follow in their stiletto prints. A nasty case of chicken-pox during her first year law exams meant her chosen pathway deviated unexpectedly and she was instead thrust down a proverbial side street: environmental economics. However, it wasnt unfamiliar territory. At school Stephanie admits to being the tree-hugging passionate co-chair of her school Environment Committee. She worked diligently to address important environmental issues and came to understand applying economic principle was one way to protect the environment. For example, a government policy to apply a carbon tax or emissions trading scheme means busy people making product choices in their daily lives dont need to give too much thought to the environmental impact of their purchase. In other words, someone else has done the thinking for them. During her studies at The University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, Stephanie became inspired by the work of Professor Gordon Munro, a specialist in the area of Renewable Resource Economics. Munro was engaged with his material and knew his stuff. His research formed the foundation for the first big wave of fisheries economics study. Stephanie rode that wave and she still does today....

Stephanies research involves three distinct areas: Firstly: the international sharing of fish stocks. As previously noted, most fish dont belong to any one country and they readily migrate about the globe. Some fish stocks are localised (eg, cray or crab) but wild fish, that is, fish not farmed in captivity, generally migrate through international waters. Who decides when, where and how much fish can be taken from the earths seas? Some countries who share neighbouring waters have agreements in place outlining such expectations. Australia and New Zealand generally cooperate (off the rugby field at least), but can you imagine drafting an agreement for the Caribbean, made up of 26 countries? Yikes! Add to these agreements, agreements per fish type and you can see where some heavy going mathematical economic genius might be applied. Secondly, Stephanie researches the impact of management changes in the fishing industry. How do economically driven changes affect the people working on the ground? What will be the impact on how fishermen operate? Will they try to reduce costs or look for higher-valued markets? Will management changes that encourage longer seasons mean more flexibility and hence higher value use of the resource? Finally, what are the effects of combining behavioural economic models with fisheries theory on sustainability in the fishing industry? What does this mean for governments choosing the most appropriate policies both today, and more importantly, for the long-term viability of oceans as valuable food sources? How do we keep consumers, businesses, industry employees and even those who have achieved economic status via the fruits of their fishing labour, as happy campers throughout implementing new policy? Achieving a smooth transition is no mean feat. Economics is a way of thinking: it provides a framework for analysing individual decisions and influencing those decisions for the greater good. Stephanie aims to pose her questions in a logical, informative and useful way to achieve practical outcomes. She aims for her research to help groups of countries effectively manage their fish resources and hopes her research will serve to avoid conflict and strengthen international fisheries management whilst taking into account the issues faced by poorer countries. So! The next time youre hoeing into a tasty piece of sock-eye salmon, take a moment to think about the future of your yummy meals species. Will it grace the dinner plates of your grandchildren and their grandchildren? Or will it merely be remembered as a faded drawing featured on page 763 of The Encyclopaedia of Extinct Fish. With someone like Stephanie McWhinnie on the case, be assured, your favourite seafood dish will be safe. And theres nothing remotely fishy about that.

Words by Allayne Webster Faculty of the Professions The University of Adelaide, AUSTRALIA 5005 Ph : +61 8 8313 0225 Fax : +61 8 8313 4843 e-mail: allayne.webster@adelaide.edu.au