Fishers' trip choice behavior in Hawaii's longline fishery was analyzed by applying a utility theoretic mixed model (a combination of the conditional and multinomial logit (unordered) models) which accounts for both choice-and individual-specific attributes. The results indicate that fishers demonstrated utility maximizing and risk-averse behavior. They exhibited 'inertia' in switching to alternate trip choices. The stock level of major species, vessel age and size also significantly influenced fisher's trip choice behavior. There was a high proportion of concord between the actual choice and model's in-sample prediction of choices. Trip choice behavior was also simulated under different fleet structure and stock conditions.

A behavioral study on the entry, stay and exit decisions of the fishers in Hawaii's longline fishery was undertaken in a random utility framework by applying the multinomial logit (unordered) model. Pooled annual cross-sectional and time-series (1991-1998) data were used. The empirical results confirm that the entry, stay, and exit decisions are significantly associated with the earning potential of fishers, crowding externality, resource abundance and some managerial factors. The probability of a vessel to stay (or exit) in the fishery increased (or decreased) for an increase in the earning potential of a fisher. A larger fleet size shows vessels were more inclined to exit from the fishery than stay in the fishery. The probability of vessel entry (or exit) was also positively (or negatively) associated with an increase in stock levels of major target species. Further, a vessel was more likely to stay in the fishery when the vessel owner was a Hawaii resident or a vessel captain. Simulation of the probability for a vessel to enter, stay, or exit for a change in fleet size or stock level was also carried out. r

Sea turtle interactions with the longline fishery in Hawaii have become a serious concern in recent years. Various measures, including a swordfish harvest ban, have been adopted to protect sea turtles. This study explores the factors and degree of sea turtle interactions with Hawaii's pelagic longline fishery, i.e. the production of undesirable outputs in the pursuit of an economic activity, in an analytical framework of rare events using the count data models for the period 1994-2003. The analysis was based on the type of trip, such as those targeting tuna or swordfish. The fishing technologies associated with the choice of trip or target species, season, and turtle population explained turtle interactions with the longline fishery. The impact of a fishing vessel's previous history of turtle interactions had a negligible impact on subsequent interactions. In the absence of new longline fishing technologies to dramatically avert sea turtle interactions, there are about 6% and 55% chance that at least one turtle per trip may be encountered in tuna-and swordfish-targeted fishing trips, respectively. This study confirms that more turtle interactions are associated with the swordfish-targeted trips. Several of the factors that contributed substantially to turtle interactions can be feasibly regulated. Furthermore, the conservation and management of sea turtles require increased policy dialogues and cooperation among the coastal nations vis-à-vis the adaptation to "turtle-friendly" fishing technologies.

Abstract. This study employs the stochastic frontier production function approach to measuring the productive performance of canal irrigation in terms of farm-specific technical efficiency. The 1993 production data from samples of rice farmers from Khageri (government managed) and Pithuwa (farmer managed) irrigation systems in the Tarai of Nepal were analyzed using a stochastic production frontier, including a model for the technical inefficiency effects. Relative both to a common or pooled production frontier for the two systems and a separate or own frontier for each system, on average, the farmers from the farmer-managed system were found to be more efficient than those from the government system. Furthermore, the government system showed higher spatial variability in technical efficiency in rice production than the farmer-managed one, which suggests that irrigation management has a significant influence on production and hence on the distribution of productivity gains among the farmers. However, better performance of the farmer-managed irrigation system relative to the government system should be weighed against the higher transaction costs associated with irrigation management by farmers. The results indicate that substantial potential exists for increasing rice production by increasing the application of chemical fertilizer, the planting of seed, and the use of irrigation and by improving technical efficiency at the farm level.

As domestic affluence increases, nations advocate for conservation policies to protect domestic biodiversity that often curtail natural resource production activities such as fishing. If concomitant consumption patterns remain unchanged, environmentally-conscious nations with high consumption rates such as the U.S. may only be distancing themselves from the negative environmental impacts associated with consuming resources and commodities produced elsewhere. This unintended displacement of ecosystem impacts, or leakage, associated with conservation policies has not been studied extensively in marine fisheries. This paper examines this topic, drawing on case studies to illustrate the ways in which unilateral marine conservation actions can shift ecosystem impacts elsewhere, as has been documented in land use interventions. The authors argue that the U.S. should recognize these distant ecological consequences and move toward greater self-sufficiency to protect its seafood security and minimize leakage as well as undertake efforts to reduce ecosystem impacts of foreign fisheries on which it relies. Six solutions are suggested for broadening the marine conservation and seafood consumption discussion to address U.S.-induced leakage.