Theses and Dissertations
Issuing Body
Mississippi State University
Advisor
Yun, Seong
Committee Member
Petrolia, Daniel R.
Committee Member
Powers, Sean
Date of Degree
8-9-2022
Document Type
Graduate Thesis - Open Access
Major
Agriculture with a concentration in Agricultural Economics
Degree Name
Master of Science (M.S.)
College
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department
Department of Agricultural Economics
Abstract
Environmental threats to fisheries are a rising concern for fishery managers. Gulf of Mexico hypoxia is particularly concerning. In order to properly manage Gulf fisheries, the sustainability of species stock and its natural capital values should be analyzed. As an empirical effort, I use blue crab in Louisiana waters as a case study to build a bioeconomic model of blue crab under hypoxia. I apply the natural capital valuation approach to estimate the blue crab value function under hypoxia in order to assess blue crab sustainability. I find that blue crab management in Louisiana under hypoxia is not sustainable, being less so under increasing hypoxia severity. In order to manage blue crab fisheries more stably under hypoxia, regulatory agencies along the Mississippi River should continue current efforts to reduce hypoxia, and take steps to sustain more blue crab stocks by management regimes reflecting the severity of hypoxia.
Recommended Citation
Brewer, Shelby Leigh, "Natural capital value of fisheries under environmental stressor: A case of blue crab under hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico" (2022). Theses and Dissertations. 5583.
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/5583