AN APPLICATION OF PRODUCTION THEORY TO FISHING EFFORT STANDARDIZATIONIN THE SMALL-PELAGICS FISHERY IN CENTRAL PHILIPPINES

Standard fishing effort functions were estimated for vessels using sma ll pelagic gear in Guimaras Strait, Philippines via the production fun ction approach. The sample included both the artisanal and commercial sectors of the trawl, encircling gill net, Danish seine, and purse sei ne fleets. The drift net is purely artisanal. Variables having a posit ive impact on effort include tonnage, crew size, crewdays and fuel con sumption, whereas the effects of distance from port and educational at tainment of crew were varied. The standardized fishing effort allowed for comparison of the impact of various gears in the fishery. The fish ing effort functions were useful in evaluating the impacts of alternat ive regulations or policies for reducing fishing intensity. For instan ce, if restrictions on gross tonnage or vessel capacity are implemente d, the largest decrease in fishing effort would come from the commerci al sector of the Danish seine and encircling gill net fleets. However, results indicated that these vessels can substitute fuel or crewdays for tonnage to maintain the same level of fishing effort.