Table 10. — Comparative average value for selected socioeconomic variables in the sample of lobstermen and the four 



target groups. 



*The number in parentheses refers to the total number of fishermen relevant to a particular category. 

 Source: University of Maine Survey Data, 1970. 



capital used compared to Groups I and III. 

 Group III ranks third in average income. 

 Here the high level of labor intensity offset 

 the effect of low capital intensity. Its income/ 

 effort ratio is almost the same as that of 

 Group I. 



Socioeconomic Impact of Changes 

 in Harvesting Labor Force 



As pointed out earlier, the different target 

 groups were constructed on the basis of differ- 

 ent criteria such as low earnings/effort ratio, 

 low level of both effort and investment, high 

 labor and capital input combination. The 

 rationale for this procedure is simply to facili- 

 tate comparative analysis of alternative man- 

 agement strategies. For instance, one might 

 consider limiting entry on the basis of low 

 earnings/effort ratio combined with low level 

 of income (Group I); one might also focus 

 on low earnings/effort ratio regardless of 

 the level of income (Group II); alternatively, 

 one might emphasize high labor-low capital 

 input combination associated with low income 

 as an indicator of inefficiency (Group III); 

 finally, high capital-low labor input combina- 

 tion regardless of a relatively higher level of 

 income may be construed as an indicator of 

 excess capacity (Group IV). 



It should be noted that it was not the pur- 

 pose of this study either to advocate or repudi- 

 ate any particular management strategy and 

 its implicit goal. The intent here is simply to 

 analyze the potential socioeconomic impact 



of a change in the harvesting labor force in 

 the Maine lobster fishery if such a change 

 amounts to reducing inefficient inputs from 

 given target groups. 



For the purpose of this study such impact 

 is analyzed primarily in terms of employment 

 effects and income effects relative to the target 

 group populations and the local economy. 



Employment Effects 



Taking into consideration the employment- 

 related variable such as skills either from 

 currently held part-time jobs or alternative 

 jobs held in the past, level of education, and 

 age, a simplified profile of labor market par- 

 ticipation potential of the target groups is 

 shown in Table 11. 



The category "potentially employable" in- 

 cludes those individuals who have market- 

 able skills acquired from formal vocational 

 training and/or alternative job experience. 

 This survey information was supplemented 

 by information on the local labor market 

 through the cooperation of the regional offices 

 of the Maine Employment Security Commis- 

 sion. If there was a match between the kinds 

 of skills in demand in the local labor market 

 and the skills possessed, an individual was 

 considered eligible for the category "potential- 

 ly employable." 



The category "possibly trainable" includes 

 those who on the basis of age and level of 

 education would be likely to benefit from and 



168 



