Ecosystems Modeling: Economic Considerations for a Peruvian Coastal Fishery; A.I.D. Technical Services Project
MECHANISTIC SIMULATION MODELS OF ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES ARE BECOMING USEFUL TOOLS FOR THE STUDY AND MANAGEMENT OF COMPLEX NATURAL SYSTEMS SUCH AS UPSWELLING COASTAL REGIONS. THE GOAL OF THIS COOPERATIVE PROJECT WAS TO DEVELOP SUCH A MODEL, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE WORKING EXPERIENCE WITH THE METHODS AND SERVE AS A BASIS FOR FUTURE MODEL DEVELOPMENT IN PERU. THIS REPORT DISCUSSES BRIEFLY THE ECOLOGICAL ASSUMPTIONS AND MATHEMATICAL METHODS USED IN THE MODEL. THE MODEL CURRENTLY RUNS SATISFACTORILY, ALTHOUGH ITS SIMPLE NATURE PRECLUDES EXTENSIVE COMPARISON WITH DETAILED, OBSERVED DATA. A NUMBER OF SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE MODIFICATIONS ARE PRESENTED. IN ADDITION, TENTATIVE, SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM PROGRAMS OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH WERE DRAWN UP. THE SHORT-TERM PROGRAM CALLS FOR A STUDY OF ARTISANAL FISHERY IN ORDER TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FISHERY. THE LONG-TERM PROGRAM STILL IS NOT CLEAR THOUGH PROBABLY WILL ENTAIL ECONOMIC RESEARCH REQUIRED FOR THE PROPER DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF THE EXPLOITATION OF PERU'S FISHERY RESOURCES.