Methods for Evaluating the Impacts of Fisheries on North Atlantic Ecosystems
Tracking Fisheries Landings in the North Atlantic
Ussif Rashid Sumaila, Ratana Chuenpagdee and Gordon R. MunroAbstract
The aim of this paper is to develop a spreadsheet-based framework to help track the flow of fish landings within the North Atlantic region, and to identify profit margins to the various product sectors. We start by estimating the amount of domestic consumption for each country, which is the total fish landings, plus the amount of import, minus the amount of export. As we focus mainly on the trade in North Atlantic, we limit the import and export amounts to those within the region. Next, we determine the proportion of the major product forms under which they are marketed, e.g. fresh, frozen, salted, smoked, industrial, etc. For each product, we follow its marketing channel through various distributing sectors, i.e. wholesalers, retailers and restaurants and food services. In all cases, both the quantity and the value of traded products are recorded, as well as the operating costs of each sector. The results derived are used to identify the sectors or product forms that capture most of the economic benefits from the fishes of the North Atlantic. This knowledge, when used with other information and coupled with further investigation on ownership patterns in the fishing sector, will contribute to the development of management policies that are both ecologically and socio-economically viable.