Directions for productivity measurement in fisheries

Fisheries policy is often aimed at sustaining and improving economic performance, but the use of traditional productivity measurement to assess performance over time has been quite limited. In this paper we review the currently sparse literature on productivity in fisheries, and suggest ways to better account for many of the relevant issues unique to the industry. Specifically, we discuss the need to incorporate bycatch levels, to better account for environmental and stock fluctuations, and to relax some of the restrictive economic assumptions that have been imposed in the research to date. A methodological framework that may be used to incorporate these factors is proposed.