Marine Science Affairs 



Figure III-2- U.S. Market for Fishery Products 



Billions of Pounds (Live Weight) 



1950 



1960 



1970 



1980 



1990 



2000 



Dept. of Inte 



international waters are increasingly being harvested by vessels of Asian 

 and European origin. 



Numerous interrelated factors bear on this lack of growth of the U.S. 

 fishing industry, and the decline in our international competitive position. 

 Institutional constraints have been cited as a principal cause. Laws, customs, 

 regulations — international and local — may limit the catch of a fisherman or 

 group of fishermen. The restrictions include limitations on the area to be 

 fished, fishing season, type of gear, boats, or the fishing techniques. Regula- 

 tions may thus be imposed to conserve a sustainable supply of fish stocks; to 

 mediate conflicting user interests, such as between sport and commercial fish- 

 ing; to insure use of fishing vessels built in the United States; or to insure 

 that individual American fisheimen are not at a disadvantage in competing 

 with larger American fishing organizations. 



Unfortunately, these regulations sometimes result in serious constraints 

 on the economic efficiency of fishing activities. These constraints contribute 

 to the fragmentation of the industry into small units. A small fishing opera- 

 tion like any small business finds it hard to accumulate sufficient capital 

 to adopt advanced methods and equipment. The fishing industry has not . 

 benefited from advantages of large-scale operations and has not developed 

 capabilities to exploit stocks in distant waters except for tuna and shrimp. 

 Some parts of the United States fishing industry increasingly look to invest- 

 ment opportunities abroad where institutional arrangements are considered 

 less burdensome. 



38 



