Estimating Water Quality Impacts in Marine Fisheries: The Case of Northern Shrimp in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence

The Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence in Canada is experiencing a decline in oxygen levels, adversely affecting marine life, particularly commercial northern shrimp. This study develops a biological model that links oxygen saturation to the growth rate of northern shrimp to assess how variations in oxygen saturation impact shrimp populations. By simulating scenarios where oxygen saturation levels are increased by 5–25 percentage points, the research indicates that such intervention could have led to significant profit increases from 1995 to 2018, especially under restricted fishing efforts. The findings underscore the importance of effective fishery management practices in maximizing the economic benefits of improved environmental quality. Proactive measures to enhance oxygen saturation can help sustain marine ecosystems and support the fishing industry before the region becomes hypoxic.