SCRC: PhD : Managing Fisheries To Maximise Profits By Understanding And Reducing Variable Costs Of Fishing
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
There are several reasons that targeted research on the variable cost of fishing is warranted as part of the bioeconomic activities of the theme. First, some fisheries regulations have evolved over long periods with lower fishing costs, a revision of these could increase the profitability of the fishery and may be necessary to ensure economic viability into the future. Secondly, fuel is one of the largest variable cost factors in most fisheries and has proven to be highly volatile in price over ....There are several reasons that targeted research on the variable cost of fishing is warranted as part of the bioeconomic activities of the theme. First, some fisheries regulations have evolved over long periods with lower fishing costs, a revision of these could increase the profitability of the fishery and may be necessary to ensure economic viability into the future. Secondly, fuel is one of the largest variable cost factors in most fisheries and has proven to be highly volatile in price over the last few years; extensive evidence suggests that fuel prices will continue to rise at rates significantly faster than most other costs. Third, the economic flows from fuel consumption tend to provide a lower contribution to GDP than other variable costs such as labour (due to the export nature of the cost); consequently disproportionate increases in fuel prices may result in a lower fishery contribution to GDP.Read moreRead less
Feasibility Assessment Of Commercial Production Of Two Important Shellfish (abalone And Scallops)
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Objectives: 1. Feasibility of culturing abalone using existing facilities and existing longline technology; examine the economic feasibility of a scallop farming venture based on traditional methods of culture
SESSF Industry Development Subprogram: Alternative Fuels For Fishing Vessels
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$137,291.91
Summary
With most of Australia's fish stocks at fully fished or overfished status, there is reduced opportunity for increasing economic returns from larger catches or unexploited resources. As a result, the fishing industry is looking for opportunities to increase its profit margins by reducing the cost of fishing. Generally, fuel is the one single highest operating cost to fishing vessels, accounting for up to 50% of the operating costs of a fishing vessel in Australia.
The Australian (and Ne ....With most of Australia's fish stocks at fully fished or overfished status, there is reduced opportunity for increasing economic returns from larger catches or unexploited resources. As a result, the fishing industry is looking for opportunities to increase its profit margins by reducing the cost of fishing. Generally, fuel is the one single highest operating cost to fishing vessels, accounting for up to 50% of the operating costs of a fishing vessel in Australia.
The Australian (and New Zealand) Fishing Industry requires assistance in becoming a more efficient user of energy. Some forms of fishing, such as trawling, expend more fuel per kg of fish landed compared to passive methods such as longlining and trap fishing. In all cases however, rising fuel prices impinge on the profitability of the operations, and ultimately put their viability in jeopardy; this has reach a critical situation for many operators in Australia.
The R&D plans and strategies of all advisory bodies to the FRDC contain high priority goals to achieve FRDC’s Industry Development goal (planned outcome):, The commercial sector of the Australian fishing industry is profitable, internationally competitive and socially resilient. This investigation into alternative fuels for the fishing industry, some of which also achieve lower greenhouse gas emissions, has the intention of improving the economic viability of fishing enterprises and shifting the industry towards a more secure position with respect to future fuel needs.
Objectives: 1. Demonstrate the feasibility of Marine Gas Oil (or other lower cost distillates) in fishing vessel engines, as a cheaper form of petroleum based diesel fuel. 2. Investigate the technical feasibility of fishoil as a biofuel source related directly to the activities of the industry. 3. Evaluate LPG as a relatively user friendly option with established supply chain, and detail the required technology in the context of fishing vessels. 4. Evaluate natural gas (LNG, CNG) as a prospect for significant fuel cost savings, and detail the required technology in the context of fishing vessels. Read moreRead less
Mechanism design under bounded rationality: The optimal contracts in the complex world. The research will help to clarify the nature of optimal contracts in real life environments. An important feature of such environments is that they are complex so that actors cannot be assumed to behave fully rationally. We propose to address the question of optimal contract design under bounded rationality. Determining the incidence of costs of boundedly rational behaviour may provide foundations for some p ....Mechanism design under bounded rationality: The optimal contracts in the complex world. The research will help to clarify the nature of optimal contracts in real life environments. An important feature of such environments is that they are complex so that actors cannot be assumed to behave fully rationally. We propose to address the question of optimal contract design under bounded rationality. Determining the incidence of costs of boundedly rational behaviour may provide foundations for some policy proposals in areas as diverse as industrial relations and income taxation in Australian settings.
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Increased Economic Efficiency For The Western Rocklobster Fishery Through Improved Pot Design
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$135,453.72
Summary
Given the current cost-price squeeze, the WA FRAB and the WRL Industry have highlighted business improvement/cost competitiveness within the fishing industry as a priority for research. For the WRL fishery, this situation has resulted primarily from a relatively static beach price for lobster and increasing fuel, labour and other input costs. A major driver for input costs in this fishery is the number of pot lifts, which is currently about 10 million annually, equating to a total cost of ~$60 m ....Given the current cost-price squeeze, the WA FRAB and the WRL Industry have highlighted business improvement/cost competitiveness within the fishing industry as a priority for research. For the WRL fishery, this situation has resulted primarily from a relatively static beach price for lobster and increasing fuel, labour and other input costs. A major driver for input costs in this fishery is the number of pot lifts, which is currently about 10 million annually, equating to a total cost of ~$60 million (average cost per potlift - $6.00). This is one area where input costs may be reduced.
The fishery currently has strict controls on the pot characteristics to maintain equity among participants and to ensure exploitation rates remain constant. By improving the catching efficiency of the pots the same annual landings could be achieved with a far lower number of pot lifts. For example, an increase in the fishing efficiency of a lobster pot by 10-20% would reduce pot lifts by 10-20% and return to the industry a minimum cost saving in excess of $3-6 million annually. An industry based working group will aim to develop more efficient pots which will provide additional cost savings in fuel and bait usage.
The decision to use more efficient pots could be undertaken at an individual fisher level, but this requires robust conversion rates for any modified design(s) to ensure that the integrity of the fishery's input based management system is not compromised.
Objectives: 1. To provide industry with the blueprint(s) of one or many pots that catch target size western rocklobster in a more efficient manner 2. To provide industry with estimates of the cost savings that would be achieved in the the WRLF through the adoption of a more efficient pot 3. To optimise the economic efficiency of industry stakeholders without adversely affecting the exploitation rate Read moreRead less