Catch rate composition affects assessment of protected area impacts

A reanalysis of catch rate data reveals that the composition of catches significantly influences assessments of protected area impacts on Hawaii’s deep-set longline fishery. While previous studies, including those by Lynham et al. and Chan, yielded conflicting findings—one showing no negative impact from the expansion of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM) and the other reporting a 7% decrease in catch rates and 9% drop in revenues for vessels with a history of fishing in PMNM—Sweeney’s analysis identifies catch rate composition as the critical factor. The study suggests that aggregate commercial catch rate is a more robust measure of catch per unit effort (CPUE) than previously used methods, recommending a reanalysis of Lynham et al.’s model to account for this insight.

Sweeney, J. R. (2021). Catch rate composition affects assessment of protected area impacts. Nature Communications, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-21607-4