Testing the Environmental Kuznets Curve Hypothesis in Offshore Fisheries

Abstract

This study analyzes the relationship between fishery revenue and greenhouse gas(GHG) emissions of offshore fisheries in preparation for achieving carbon negative in the fisheries sector and proposes policy improvements based on the results. To this end, the seemingly unrelated regression(SUR) model was used to estimate the environmental Kuznets curve(EKC) by gear of offshore fisheries. In addition, the turning point of fishery revenue was measured for gears adopting the EKC hypothesis. As a result, the EKC hypothesis was adopted for offshore stow net, offshore gill net, offshore trap, anchovy drag net, and large otter trawl. Among these gears, only offshore gill net exceeded the turning point of fishery revenue and was in a state of decoupling of GHG emissions. In other words, it was analyzed that offshore gill net was already in the phase of environmental improvement. Thus, for gears that have not exceeded the turning point of fishery revenue to enter the environmental improvement phase, the government must expand the scale of the fishing vessel reduction program and supply energy saving hybrid fishing vessel. Also, research and development of fishing gear that can reduce underwater resistance should be continued, and policy establishment to reduce the scale of the fleet is needed.