Software

FishRent, a tool to simulate and optimze fisherman behaviour

How do the Natura 2000 sites affect the Dutch beamtrawlers? Does the economic crisis impact the Dutch fishing sector? Will fishing still be a viable economic activity in 15 year? To answer these questions LEI has developed FishRent, a tool to simulate fisherman behaviour and to predict future costs and earning in the fishing segment.

FishRent is a bio-economic model which simulates and optimizes fishermen behaviour. It takes into account the environmental drivers like changes in the stock, the economic drivers like changes in the fuel prices and proposed management measures like the implementation of Natura 2000 sites and simulates the catches and profits for the next 25 years.

With this tool it is possible to show explicitly the consequences of different policy decisions, changes in the stocks or changes in the fuel price. The model generates basic economic indicators like gross value added, net profits by fleet segment. The model generates also a variety of other results, e.g. size of stocks and fleets, production costs, catches and landings.

FishRent model

The website gives access to the spatial version of FishRent built in GAMS and R. With the spatial version FishRent it is possible to simulate the optimal fishing distribution of fleet segments accounting for spatial closures, oil price, management measures etc. as well as providing the economic indicators and other results. By registering you will be able to play around with FishRent and see what it is all about. In a demonstration version of the model you can try and simulate the possible effects of planned closures due to Natura 2000 sites and the effects increased fuel cost will have on future profits and earning.  For more specific questions you can contact LEI and we will be happy to discuss the possibilities.

For our partners in European projects it is possible to run the model via the website. By uploading your own data (login required) you can run the model yourself and get the results of the model runs at the results page. A manual regarding the format of the data input is provided at the download page.