Rescuing the Prey by Harvesting the Predator: Is It Possible?

A predator–prey model is used to analyse the case where the prey has been overexploited for a while and therefore is threatened by extinction even along the optimal harvesting path due to depensation in the biological model. It is assumed here, however, that extinction is unacceptable for non-economic reasons. Various sub-optimal rescue operations involving increased harvest of the predator and reduced, or zero, harvest of the prey are therefore considered. The question is how and when it is possible to rescue the prey from extinction by departing from the optimal path. Such sub-optimal policies are not always feasible. If they are feasible, they imply certainly reduced profits and may even produce negative profit. The objective of this chapter is to find the criteria for when a rescue operation is feasible and to explore the dynamics of this situation.

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