Assessing the Efficiency of Small-Scale and Bottom Trawler Vessels in Greece

Abstract

This study explores the technical and scale efficiency of two types of Greek fishing vessels, small-scale vessels and bottom trawlers, using a bias-corrected input-oriented Data Envelopment Analysis model. Moreover, the associations between efficiency scores and vessel's and skipper's characteristics are also explored. The results indicate that small-scale vessels achieve a very low average technical efficiency score (0.42) but a much higher scale efficiency score (0.81). Conversely, bottom trawlers achieve lower scale but higher technical efficiency scores (0.68 and 0.73, respectively). One important finding of this study is that the technical efficiency of small-scale vessels, in contrast to trawlers, is positively associated with the experience of the skipper. In a looser context, it can be said that small-scale fisheries mainly rely on skill, whereas bottom trawlers rely more on technology. This study concludes that there is space for improvement in efficiency, mainly for small-scale vessels, which could allow the achievement of the same level of output by using reduced inputs.

Analysis of the technical efficiency of Nile perch (Lates niloticus) fishers in the Tanzanian portion of Lake Victoria: A stochastic frontier analysis

“…Further, the high cost of inputs, bad weather and activities of trawlers were the most important limitations faced by the artisanal fisheries. In another study, Pinello et al () assessed small‐scale and bottom trawler vessels in Greece, finding the technical efficiency of small‐scale vessels, unlike trawlers, is positively related to the experience of the skippers. Similarly, Thean, Latif, and Hussein () examined the technical efficiency and factors causing inefficiency of sampled trawl vessels in Penang Malaysia using a DEA method.…”

The Commercial Trap Fishery in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico: an Economic, Social, and Technological Profile

“…The TI model showed that fishing experience and kinship ties were main factors that enhanced TE. The significance of fishing experience underscores the importance of fisher skill over fishing technology, which has been also reported in other small-scale fisheries (Oliveira et al 2016;Pinello et al 2016). Although fishing experience was expected to improve TE, we were uncertain how kinship relationships among the crew would influence efficiency.…”

“…Moreover, Oliveira et al (2016) observed that the use of social variables to analyze the performance of small-scale fleets has been fairly limited in the literature due to the absence of detailed data. Our study also contributes to a small but growing body of literature examining factors that affect the TE of smallscale fisheries (Fousekis and Klonaris 2003;Squires et al 2003;Esmaeili 2006;Sesabo and Tol 2007;Akanni 2010;Oliveira et al 2010Oliveira et al , 2016Pinello et al 2016).…”

“…Development of policies to advance the welfare of small-scale fishers requires an understanding not only of the fishery's economic and social conditions but also of the technological factors that may hinder the pursuit of improved livelihoods. Securing efficiency gains can assist fishing communities in meeting their long-term income, sustenance, and employment needs provided that management agencies can maintain harvest levels commensurate with the productivity of the stocks (Pinello et al 2016). Against this backdrop, the present study had two main objectives.…”

Drivers of Labor-Related Indicators across Diverse Mediterranean Fisheries

“…The fishing fleets of these four countries were analyzed in this paper. All of the fleets were managed through input controls [21,22], largely based on fixed licence availability, temporal and/or spatial limitation, limits on the allowable gear types and-aside from for Bluefin tuna-without quota systems in place [6,7,[23][24][25]. In the Mediterranean there is not a single policy context, but rather a mix of international, regional and national policies are applied.…”