Economic Impact of the Commercial Fisheries on Local County Economies from Catch in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary 2010, 2011 and 2012

Authors:

Vernon R. Leeworthy, NOAA, National Ocean Service, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
Desiree Jerome, Clark University, NOAA Summer Fellow
Kelsey Schueler, Monterey Institute of International Studies, Center for the Blue Economy Summer Fellow

photo montage of sea life

This report estimates the economic impact of commercial fishing within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) according to the California Ocean Fish Harvester Economic Model. The methodology applies county multipliers to estimates of harvest revenue from the MBNMS in order to calculate output, income, value added and employment. This report also describes a profile of the commercial fish industry in the MBNMS. In addition, this report explores special issues related to trends in trawl catch. Special issues represent specific requests from sanctuary management for queries of the data.

This report estimates the economic impact of commercial fishing within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) according to the California Ocean Fish Harvester Economic Model (COFHE). This report also describes a profile of the commercial fish industry in the MBNMS. In addition, this report explores special issues related to trends in trawl fishing. The three-year average for 2010 to 2012 finds that landings of catch from CBNMS generated $25,962,774 in harvest revenue, $42,028,137 in output, $28,633,164 in value added, $25,942,900 in total income and 843 full and part-time jobs across 12 counties. During the study period harvest revenue demonstrated an overall increase, ranging from $24,299,169 in 2010 to $29,644,153 in 2012. The top five species/species groups caught in MBNMS were Market Squid, Dungeness crab, Salmon, Coastal Pelagics, and Spot Prawn. These top five species/species groups accounted for over 91% of MBNMS landings in 2012. In 2012, the gear types associated with highest percent of total value include "Pots & Traps," "Other Seine - Dip Net," "Purse Seine," and "Troll." The top four ports where catch from MBNMS was landed are Princeton-Half Moon, Moss Landing, Monterey and Santa Cruz. All four ports were highly dependent on the sanctuary; each had over 90% of their total port landings value come from the sanctuary. Monterey and Santa Cruz each had over 95% of their port landings value from the sanctuary. Moss Landing was the least dependent, with 91.85% of its value coming from the sanctuary. Monterey was the most dependent, with 96.59% of its value coming from the sanctuary.

Key Words:

Economic impact, income, jobs, California, commercial fishing, harvest revenue, trawl, output, multiplier, port dependence.