The determinants that cause small-scale vessels to exit fishing: The case of the Spanish small-scale purse seine fishery

•Vessels whose overall length is less than 12 m are more likely to exit.•Aids for scrapping, joint enterprise and exportation have a positive effect on exit.•Fishing vessels operating with a single fishing gear are more likely to exit.•Those with lower incomes are more likely to exit to seek other opportunities.

In this paper, we explore the determinants that affect the exit decisions of vessels in the Spanish small-scale purse seine fishery. Obviously, some of the technical characteristics of the vessels, such as vessel length, engine power, gross registered tonnage and age, can have a significant influence on the decision to leave the fishery.Using survival analysis techniques, we analyse the vessels’ exit decisions from the fishery. Specifically, the Cox proportional hazard model can help identify the factors that influence these decisions. One of these factors is the granting of aid by national and community fishery administrations. Thus, we find that the hazard rate to exit from fishing activity remained more or less constant in the case of vessels that did not receive assistance to exit from fishing activity. Our results also show that fishing vessels operating with a single fishing gear (purse seiner) are more likely to exit than are those that operate using different main fishing gears. Furthermore, we find that vessels with lower incomes are more likely to seek other opportunities in alternative fisheries or industries. The paper concludes that vessels whose overall length is less than 12 m are more likely to exit the fleet than are those with a length between 12 and 15 m. These results indicate the importance of the protection of small-scale fishery and are of concern to its long-term sustainability.