Assessing the impact of environmental variability on harvest in a heterogeneous fishery: a case study of the Canadian lobster fishery

Global fisheries face significant challenges in the coming years due to climate change. Understanding and anticipating impacts of change is a necessity for implementing appropriate management. This study uses panel dataset individual fishing vessels examine how variation ocean temperature affects fish harvest. Using American lobster (Homarus americanus) fishery Maritimes region Canada as case study, this paper employs generalised linear mixed model (GLMM) taking into account heterogeneity amongst fishers, gear, vessels, areas. The GLMM found have better performance estimations when compared against alternative specifications. As expected, positive relationship was found, further contributing existing evidence warming on fishery. implications are twofold: first, it provides that environmental does impact information should be considered by industry authorities adaptive management strategies measures their decision making. Second, illustrates allowing mixed-effects using GLMMs valuable empirical tool dealing with hierarchical data structures.