Simulated economic impact of TED regulations on selected vessels in the Texas shrimp fishery

Shrimp fishermen trawling in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic inadvertently capture and kill sea turtles which are classified as endangered species. Recent legislation requires the use of a turtle excluder device (TED) which reduces sea turtle mortality. This intermediate analysis of the TED regulations using an annual firm level simulation model indicated that the average Texas shrimp vessel had a low probability of being an economic success before regulations were enacted. The difference in the internal rate of return for the TED and non-TED simulations was not significant unless the TED caused a substantial change in catch. This analysis did not allow for interactions between the fishermen in the shrimp industry, an assumption which could significantly alter the impact of TED use on the catch and earnings of the individual shrimp vessel. -from Authors

Simulated economic impact of TED regulations on selected vessels in the Texas shrimp fishery Academic Article