This study investigates the relative geographic stability of fish landings over time on the West Coast of the United States. Special attention is given to how that distribution was affected by a federal policy to improve fishery efficiency through a program to buyback limited-entry groundfish trawl permits. The findings indicate that programs that promote efficiency may also affect where fish are landed. The 2003 buyback was found to have an effect on the geographic distribution of landings by reducing the geographic dispersion of industry participants. This shift in landings is likely to have economic impacts on communities where landings are reduced though upstream and downstream third party impacts.

JEL Classification Codes: R11, R15, Q22