Allocation of TAC and fishing effort in mixed-fisheries: abio-economic modelling approach applied to the Channel flatfish fisheries

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The aim of this article is to assess the respective merits of management strategies building on fixed or flexible catch quota allocation and also their sensitivity to a variety of fleet behavior mechanisms, using a simulation modelling approach. The modeling framework is applied to the Channel flatfish mixed fisheries. The results are sensitive to the fleet dynamics. When fleet behavior depends on both traditions and expected economic returns, one clear advantage of a flexible quota allocation regime would be to maintain the spawning SSB of Eastern Channel sole, the main targeted stock, above safe limits in all projected years. The impact of the flexible quota allocation regime on the less targeted species is more mitigated, as TAC would be exceeded in 80% of projected years. Under the flexible quota allocation scenario, only two (out of initially four) fleets, the small and large netters, would own most of the stocks quotas, and only these two fleets would be expected to make a decent profit out of fishing in the future