“Being Typical” – The Representative Farms Method in Aquaculture and Fisheries

The collection of economic data for fisheries and aquaculture is a pre-condition for an effective and sustainable management of marine and freshwater resources. To be able to promote Blue Growth it is important to understand the economic drivers both at the micro- and macro-economic level. Economic data collected for statistics purposes are based on historical account data and it is not uncommon, that the result from fisheries and aquaculture surveys are published two or more years after the financial accounts has been finalized. However, reliable data at the micro level for fishing vessels and aquaculture farms are not always available. Furthermore, when it comes to evaluate actual impacts on fisheries and aquaculture enterprises, political decision-makers need analysis showing real time scenarios. A network of representative model vessels and farms overcomes this research desideratum. According to agri benchmark network a typical fish farm or a typical fishing vessel is combines resources, labour and capital as established in the management and the addressed region today. The typical farm approach has the potential to evaluate the economic impact of new technologies, fisheries programmes, new managing frameworks or market conditions. The new approach of typical aquatic production systems has been tested in different countries among the globe in the recent years. My article sums up the principle of the approach and the experiences Thunen-Institute has made with typical farms and vessels so far.