Evaluation of tuna fishing zones in the eastern Pacific using a multicriteria method

Abstract

A multicriteria assessment of fishing zones was carried out using the utility function (U) technique, considering three management objectives (maximizing tuna yield, minimizing dolphin mortality, and minimizing bycatch) and seven different weights among them. The Mexican purse-seine tuna fishery in the eastern Pacific Ocean was used as case study, based on data obtained between 1998 and 2003 by the Mexican Tuna-Dolphin Program. The fishing zones were classified by trimester according to U, and 64% were identified as conflictive (U > 0.666 for some weights, but U < 0.333 for others); hence, two of every three trimestral quadrants require negotiation among the decision makers given the complex nature of the fishery. Quadrants with specific characteristics were identified in cases where, for instance, some particular sets explained the high bycatch values, or the targeting of bluefin tuna explained their classification as excellent. Even though the weights used provided a good proxy, in view of the great variability in space and time of the pelagic resources, actual preferences (weights) should be differentiated in space and time in order to be useful in the decision-making process. Particularly noteworthy is that wellstructured and efficient management schemes have already been implemented for two of the objectives (maximizing tuna yield and minimizing dolphin mortality), but not for the third (minimizing bycatch).

Keywords

• multicriteria
• utility function
• bycatch