Estimation of productivity growth, technical progress and efficiency changes of fisheries in Egypt

Abstract

In this study, technical efficiency was estimated for 16 fishing vessels from 2001 to 2014 by using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Output orientated with assuming a constant return to scale (CRS) was used. As a result of this analysis, the technical efficiency TE of trawl (I), purse seine (E), trammel net (C) and longline (G) fishing vessels were equal to 1. It means all of them are efficient, but the other vessels are inefficient because TE < 1. On the other hand, the changes in total factor productivity of trawl, purse seine, trammel net and longline fisheries that are common to Ezbet EL Borg between the same period (2001 and 2014) was evaluated by a nonparametric technique which is titled as Malmquist total factor productivity index. The total factor productivity change TFPCH decomposed into technical change TECHCH and efficiency change EFFCH. The total factor productivity change was analyzed through analyzing TECHCH and EFFCH. According to the analysis, the change in mean total factor productivity of the fisheries in Ezbet EL Borg was 1.2% yearly. The changes in both of the mean total technical efficiency and technological change were 0.1% and 1.1% respectively. The activity of technological progress led to the increase in productivity of Ezbet EL Borg fisheries. Above all, technological progress and technical efficiency played an important role in the changes in total factor productivity of each fishery. To maintain productivity, it’s better enact good fisheries management policies by the government and efforts by the fishing industry that help productivity increases.