Enhance and advance: The benefits of recruitment enhancement in the case of the Iranian Kutum Fishery

A bioeconomic age-structured model is used to analyse the profitability of the recruitment enhancement programme for Kutum Rutilus frisii kutum (Kamensky 1901) fishing in Iranian coastal waters of the Caspian Sea. This programme has been in place since 1982. The net present value from the fishing activity is calculated in view of the effects of the enhancement programme on recruitment, catch and fishing activity costs. The results show a significant positive effect of the programme on profitability. Further, the effect of fishing mortality adjustment, as a management tool, on the profitability is also evaluated. It is shown that a reduction in fishing mortality causes a consequent increase of the NPV from the fishing activity. The enhancement programme can be considered a valuable addition to proper management for increasing economic performance when combined with appropriate management adjustments; in our case: reduction of the fishing mortality.