Modeling entry, stay, and exit decisions of the longline fishers in Hawaii

A behavioral study on the entry, stay and exit decisions of the fishers in Hawaii's longline fishery was undertaken in a random utility framework by applying the multinomial logit (unordered) model. Pooled annual cross-sectional and time-series (1991-1998) data were used. The empirical results confirm that the entry, stay, and exit decisions are significantly associated with the earning potential of fishers, crowding externality, resource abundance and some managerial factors. The probability of a vessel to stay (or exit) in the fishery increased (or decreased) for an increase in the earning potential of a fisher. A larger fleet size shows vessels were more inclined to exit from the fishery than stay in the fishery. The probability of vessel entry (or exit) was also positively (or negatively) associated with an increase in stock levels of major target species. Further, a vessel was more likely to stay in the fishery when the vessel owner was a Hawaii resident or a vessel captain. Simulation of the probability for a vessel to enter, stay, or exit for a change in fleet size or stock level was also carried out.