Abstract

In 1992, the Florida spiny lobster trap certificate program (TCP) was created to reduce the number of traps and maximize efficiency of the fishery. As with many other rights-based management programs, participants in the fishery are allowed to transfer (i.e., buy and sell) allocations to other participants, which is expected to result in consolidation and optimal performance of firms. However, the spiny lobster TCP is functioning in a diverse fishery. It is heterogeneous in firm size and function, with participants holding a broad number of traps and accommodating various markets. Additionally, participants are located across a relatively wide geographic range including the Miami area and the Florida Keys. The fishery is also comprised of two distinct ethnic groups, Anglo and Hispanic, which may result in cultural and language barriers among participants. Lastly, two commercial fishermen’s associations are active in the study area. This paper is an exploratory examination of how these factors influence the certificate transfer market. Transfer data from 1992 - 2008 are analyzed as social networks to examine relationships between sellers and buyers. Each example of an annual network analysis depicts that year’s certificate transfers. Results can help the fishermen’s associations and fishery managers better understand how markets for fishing rights work in order to improve the transfer process and ultimately the efficiency of the fishery.

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