The economic value of inland fisheries (2018)

The growing demand for food and energy is putting increasing pressure on the planet's natural resources and ecosystems. Our resource economics and environmental policy research identifies the economic, social and legal factors that influence the preservation and sustainability of aquatic ecosystems and natural resources. We also help define ocean resource management policies and analyse energy policy and trade in Middle Eastern countries.

Research

Our research influences economic, trade and energy policies across the world. We're involved in several collaborative research projects with stakeholders including non-governmental organisations (NGOs); policy makers and governments in the UK, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Pacific and South America; international bodies such as the European Union, United Nations (UN), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the World Bank; and a wide range of stakeholders including fishermen, environmentalists, and scientists.

Partnerships and collaborations

We're building a partnership with the Advisory Committee on the Protection of the Sea (ACOPS), which has resulted in 5 early career researchers of the Centre for Blue Governance engaging in the international policy forum e.g. the International Maritime Organisation.

We are also building partnerships with the Ocean University of China in Qingdao, the African Union (AU), the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

Project highlights

We're working on an EU funded project, “Innovative Fishing Gear for Ocean” (INdIGO), which aims to reduce the amount of plastic in the Channel area through the development of biodegradable fishing gear.
We're the lead partner in the EU funded project “Marine Coastal Ecosystems Biodiversity and Services in a Changing World” (MaCoBioS), to ensure efficient and integrated management and conservation strategies for European marine coastal ecosystems to face climate change.
We're involved in research with the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC) to econometrically model energy demand and relative energy efficiency in Saudi Arabia to guide Government energy policy.
In the EU-funded project “Paradigm for New Dynamic Oceanic Resource Assessments” (PANDORA) - our aim is to enhance the sustainability of fishing in European waters by improving the assessment and management of fish stocks.

Publication highlights

Modelling industrial energy demand in Saudi Arabia. Energy Economics

Alarenan, S., Gasim, A. A., & Hunt, L. C. (2020). Energy Economics, volume 85.
Scenarios of profitability of western Mediterranean demersal fisheries in an effort control regime

Akbari, N., Maynou, F., Bjorndal, T., Failler, P., Drakeford, B., & Forse, A. P. (2021). Journal of Environmental Management, volume 300.
The value of carbon sequestration by saltmarsh in Chichester Harbour, United Kingdom.

Lockwood, B., & Drakeford, B. (Accepted/In press). Journal of Environmental Economics and Policy.
Coastal protection assessment: a tradeoff between ecological, social and economic issues

Tregarot, E., Catry, T., Pottier, A., El-Hacen, E-H. M., Cheikh, M. A. S., Cornet, C. C., Marechal, J-P., & Failler, P. (2021). Ecosphere, volume 12, issue 2.

Discover our areas of expertise

Resource economics and environmental policy is 1 of our 4 areas of expertise in our Economics research area – explore the others below.

Behavioural and Experimental Economics

We investigate how psychological, emotional and social factors affect economic decision-making.

Images for behavioural economics webpage. Not for any other use as not high quality image.

Requested by Zahra Murad

Efficiency and Productivity

Through our research in this area, we're identifying inefficiency and its causes in specific sectors.

Man working with a colleague at a laptop

Monetary Policy

We explore how central banks can keep inflation low and stable by influencing how much money there is in the economy and the cost of borrowing.

Centre for Blue Governance

Aquatic environments cover more than 70% of the earth's surface – find out how our Centre for Blue Governance is securing the future of the planet's marine and freshwaters

Centre for Innovative and Sustainable Finance

The Centre for Innovative and Sustainable Finance (CISF) is undertaking research that helps governments, organisations, individuals, and society adapt to the evolving national and international financial landscape. Find out more here.