Economic Evaluation of Implementing Minimum Legal Size on Blue Swimming Crab Fishery in Indonesia

Abstract

condition of BSC. The study determined how much the profit loss would be due to the smaller-sized crab catch and due to the decline in fish catch (overfishing) and how much the implementation of a minimum legal size will change the productivity and income of fishermen over time. The effect of this restriction policy was evaluated using cost-benefit analysis. In the considerably depleted area, the projection showed that implementing a minimum legal size (MLS) policy would increase the stock of BSC in the early years of the projection. The model also showed that for the next 10 years, crab stock with size bigger than 8.5 cm would increase in the early years of the projection and then achieve a stable condition in the following years. Thus, MLS policy can help crab stocks to recover. Meanwhile, in the area where stock condition is considerably good, the crab stock would stay stable in the next 10 years. From the profitability point of view, MLS