Economic Impact of the Commercial Fisheries on Local County Economies from Catch in the Cordell Bank 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 Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary (CBNMS) according to the California Ocean Fish Harvester Economic Model. The methodology applies county multipliers to estimates of harvest revenue from the CBNMS in order to calculate output, income, value added and employment. This report also describes a profile of the commercial fish industry in the CBNMS. In addition, this report explores special issues related to trends in groundfish and "Longlines" catch. Special issues represent specific requests from sanctuary management for queries of the data.

The three-year average for 2010 to 2012 finds that landings of commercial fishing catch from CBNMS generated $992,875 in harvest revenue, $1,669,133 in output, $1,040,106 in value added, $929,023 in total income and 48 full- and part-time jobs across seven counties. During the study period harvest revenue demonstrated a consistent decline, ranging from $1,444,174 in 2010 to $757,258 in 2012. The top five species/species groups caught in CBNMS were Dungeness Crab, Salmon, Dover Sole-Thorneyheads-Sablefish Trawl, Sablefish Non-Trawl, and Other Flatfish. These top five species/species group accounted for over 95% of all CBNMS landings in 2012. In 2012, the gear types associated with highest percent of total value include "Pots & Traps," "Troll," "Trawl," "Longlines" and "Other Seine - Dip Net." The top four ports where catch from the CBNMS was landed are Bodega Bay, Fort Bragg, Princeton-Half Moon and San Francisco. None of these four ports was highly dependent on the sanctuary for their total port landings. CBNMS accounted for a high of 3.30% of total value at Bodega Bay and a low of .45% at Princeton-Half Moon.

Key Words:

Economic impact, income, jobs, commercial fishing, harvest revenue, California, output, multiplier, groundfish, longlines