Income and employment change in the new ENGLAND fishing industry

This study analyzes the effects of a large decline in catch on the income and employment of fishermen and fish processors in New England's two largest ports, Gloucester and New Bedford. The study is motivated by a dispute between the United States and Canada over rights to a portion of the fertile Georges Bank fishing ground and is based on a detailed field study of the existing economic arrangements in the industry and linkages among sectors. The disaggregated analysis of the sequence of adjustments to a decline in catch leads to a better understanding of the differential income and employment adjustments among fishermen and the employment adjustments in processing. The study also analyzes the potential for absorbing displaced fishing industry workers within the local economies. The analysis suggests that the adjustment process and absorption potential are quite different in the two ports and very uneven across sectors. Major dislocations will be felt primarily by scallopers and processing workers in New Bedford and marginal fin‐fishermen in both ports.