Tai Lohrer

B17 Taylor Hall,

427 Lorch Street,

Madison, WI 53706

Hi! I am a PhD student at the University of Wisconsin—Madison Department of Agricultural & Applied Economics.

My research uses quasi-experimental methods to explore the interactions between the biosphere and the world economy. I am interested in the valuation of natural capital and quantifying the effects of human behavior on ecosystem services.

To date, most of my work concerns Marine Protected Area implementation and conservation policy.

selected publications

Evidence of rebound effect in New Zealand MPAs: Unintended consequences of spatial management measures

Tai Lohrer, Judi E. Hewitt, Andrew M. Lohrer, Darren M. Parsons, Joanne I. Ellis, and Fabrice Stephenson

Ocean & Coastal Management, May 2023

Abs HTML

Fish size and fish biomass have been shown to increase inside the borders of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) after the cessation of fishing. However, the effects of marine protection on fishing fleet behaviour and fish catches outside of MPAs are less well understood. Here we investigated changes in total catch and Catch per Unit Effort (CPUE) of bottom trawlers outside the borders of offshore MPAs in New Zealand. We used Regression Discontinuity in Time (before versus after protection) on both aggregate and individual trawl event data for one Marine Reserve, two Benthic Protected Areas, one Closed Seamount Area and one Marine Mammal Sanctuary. Despite the various forms of protection that reduce the total fishable area, total catch tended to increase after MPA implementation. Yet, there was little evidence that this was due to the net-movement of fish from larger populations within MPA boundaries i.e. spillover. Rather, the increases in catch in the post protection period appeared to be a consequence of changes in the behaviours of commercial fishers. This may be an unintended and previously unreported negative consequence of marine protection that could dampen some of the many benefits of MPAs.