The Influence of Colorado River Flows on the Upper Gulf of California Fisheries Economy

Abstract

Fisheries economics aims to quantify and analyze the effects of interdependent anthropogenic, biological, and environmental influences. Estuaries are an environmental variable and key input to fisheries recruitment, productivity, and profitability for many species. The estuaries of the Colorado River Delta, now degraded due to lack of freshwater flows resulting from upstream damming and diversion, once provided key spawning and nursery habitat for important commercial species such as shrimp and gulf corvina. This thesis analyzes the influence of incidental river flows on the productivity of Upper Gulf of California fisheries and explores potential economic effects that could result from different river flow scenarios, including levels being pursued by conservation organizations in their efforts linked to the implementation of Minute 319.