Stochastic optimization model of aquacultured fish for sale and ecological education

Abstract

A stochastic optimization model for management of aquacultured fish for sale and ecological education is established. Population dynamics of the fish is described with a system of stochastic differential equations assuming that they are stochastically harvested after an opening time: the variable to be optimized. A remarkable difference between the present and conventional models for the aquaculture is that the former considers the harvesting for ecological education, which is a key for current inland fishery especially in Japan. Finding the cost-effective optimal opening time effectively reduces to solving an algebraic equation. Mathematical analysis on the optimal opening time clearly reveals its unique existence and qualitative behavior, such as its dependence on the model parameters, which have practical implications. A demonstrative application example of the model is also presented focusing on an aquaculture of Plecoglossus altivelis in Japan.