Abstract:
Do exports of renewable resources exacerbate resource depletion? In the case of fisheries, the answer is yes. We use species-level fisheries data to estimate the causal effect of exporting on fisheries collapse. A fisheries collapse in Japan is used as an instrument for fisheries exports in countries which do not share fish stocks with Japan. Since Japan is a large market for fisheries products, the Japanese collapse spurs export demand in other countries. The results suggest a large increase in the likelihood of fisheries collapse as a result of exports. Fisheries which are not managed via quotas are more severely affected.