Hushak, L.J., 1997.  Economics of Ruffe in the Great Lakes, Ohio Sea Grant College Program

ABSTRACT
The Eurasian ruffe, one of the recent nonindigeneous species (NIS) invaders of the Great Lakes, poses potentially high damages to the Great Lakes economy and those bordering inland waters where it would thrive. However, because the ruffe is still limited in location, it is not possible to make direct empirical estimates of its costs. Therefore, I point to some of its potential costs through examination of the economic costs of other NIS in the Great Lakes and inland waters, and the expected transferability of these results to ruffe impacts. Previous work has examined the economics of the zebra mussel and its effects on various users of water resources. Ports and harbors, commercial shippers, and establishments with water intakes (municipal water systems, electric power plants, and industrial users) are not likely to be affected by an NIS fish species. Charter boat firms, and private boat owners (especially those who angle) will be directly affected. Marinas will be affected indirectly through changes in economic activity. In addition, shore anglers will be directly affected through potential changes in nearshore fish populations, while swimmers, water skiers and divers will not be affected. Depending on the source of information, Ohio's $600m Lake Erie sport fishery lost 50-65% of its value between 1985 and 1995. Major declines occurred in the harvest of walleye and yellow perch, the primary species. Possible reasons include an above-capacity walleye population in the early 1980s, a rapidly growing white perch population during 1985-93, and the zebra mussel. The white perch and zebra mussel are NIS. However, boating in general, swimming, and scuba diving have been positively affected by the increased water clarity generated by the zebra mussel. If the ruffe is prolific in warm water fisheries as expected, it could further reduce Ohio's sport fishery as well as have a major impact on other warm water fisheries such as Saginaw Bay. The economic value of Ohio's artificial reefs could be greatly reduced if they become populated by the ruffe; the Lorain County, Ohio reef generated an estimated economic value of more than $250,000 in 1992, over twice the cost of constructing the reef. The ruffe is not likely to affect water clarity and will probably have no effect on general boating, swimming or scuba diving. To conclude, I will point to several areas of research activity that can assist managers in more effectively controlling the introductions of new NIS into the Great Lakes and other water bodies and slowing the spread of the ruffe through the Great Lakes and to inland waters. These policies, which all involve increasing care in the transfer of potentially infested water between water bodies, include ballast water inspection, the transfer of sport boats between water bodies, and the transfer of fish between water bodies.

Contact: Leroy J. Hushak, Ohio Sea Grant College Program, Department of Agricultural Economics, 2120 Fyffe Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210-1066 or hushak.1@osu.edu
Keywords: Ruffe, Nonindigenous, Economic_Impacts
Product Type: Publication, Proceedings, Impact
User Type: General