The Nature Conservancy - Central Coast Groundfish Project, Morro Bay

Lisa Wise Consulting, Inc. was retained by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in 2008 for project management, data collection, implementation, and monitoring of the Central Coast Groundfish Project, which consists of the Conservation Fishing Agreement (CFA) and an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP).

The Central Coast Groundfish Project is a partnership amongst: TNC, individual fishermen, commercial fishing organizations, the communities of Morro Bay and Port San Luis and the Department of Fish and Game, and consists of efforts aimed at exploring more sustainable ways to harvest the region’s groundfish resource. The project involves the leasing of TNC -owned federal trawl permits to commercial fishermen who agree to practice the fishing privileges under environmental and regulatory constraints. A community based fishing association (CBFA) was organized to represent fishermen, manage and promote the projects and potentially play a greater role in local fishery management.

In order to support implementation of the project, the program requires rigorous monitoring, tracking, recording, and reporting (fishing effort and economic) to satisfy Federal requirements. LWC is responsible for managing and facilitating these tasks, and coordinating amongst the fishermen, human observers, the CBFA, the communities and TNC.

Central Coast Groundfish Project Economic Impact Analysis

LWC conducted a comprehensive analysis of the economic impacts of the 2008 Central Coast Groundfish Project. The study examined five participating fishermen in TNC EFP. Findings included: total revenues generated; total direct and indirect jobs and wages generated; fishermen income and expenses; and market channels and product flow.