Overcapacity in the South African Hake Deep Sea Trawl Fishery, South Africa

Abstract

This study examines the extent, drivers and the management of overcapacity in the South African Hake Deep Sea Trawl (HDST) fishery. The research methods were quantitatively based on input-based capacity measures and qualitatively based on subjective capacity measures. The majority of the fishing capacity that operates in the HDST fishery was brought over during the recent allocation of fishing rights in South Africa. The utilization of this capacity is limited through TAC reduction and effort control regimes. This leads to capacity underutilization which reduces employment and increases the costs of the HDST fishery. Further, this capacity under-utilization has facilitated a slight recovery of this fishery’s target stock. In economic terms, there is substantial overcapacity in the HDST fishery, indicated by capacity under-utiization. In biological terms, there is no overcapacity in this fishery as capacity utilization is restricted. In social terms, however, there is inadequate fishing capacity in the HDST fishery as capacity under-utilization induced labour-under-utilization. Hence, the above management measures work in favour of the state which is concerned with the biological aspects of the fishery. The industry which is concerned with economic aspects faces overcapacity.