Public preferences for policies promoting the conservation of a universally threatened species (Anguilla spp.): Insights from a choice experiment in Japan

• Published in: Marine Policy
• Main Authors: Froehlicher, Hermione, Rambonilaza, Tina, Daverat, Françoise, Kaifu, Kenzo
• Other Authors: Environnement, territoires en transition, infrastructures, sociétés (UR ETTIS), Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Ecosystèmes aquatiques et changements globaux (UR EABX), Centre d'économie et de sociologie rurales appliquées à l'agriculture et aux espaces ruraux (CESAER), Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté COMUE (UBFC)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)-Institut Agro Dijon, Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro)-Institut national d'enseignement supérieur pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (Institut Agro), Ecologie Comportementale et Biologie des Populations de Poissons (ECOBIOP), Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour (UPPA)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Chuo University (Chuo University)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2024
• Subjects: Global biodiversity conservation; Sustainable consumerism; Demand-oriented policy instruments; Public preferences; Anguilla species; [SDE.ES]Environmental Sciences/Environment and Society; [SHS.SOCIO]Humanities and Social Sciences/Sociology; Anguilla anguilla; European eel
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-04664296; https://hal.science/hal-04664296/document; https://hal.science/hal-04664296/file/1-s2.0-S0308597X24003233-main.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2024.106325

International audience The population of the Northern temperate eel species (Anguilla spp.) has undergone a significant decline, resulting in their classification as Endangered (American eel Anguilla rostrata and Japanese eel Anguilla japonica) or Critically Endangered (European eel Anguilla anguilla) by the IUCN. The growing global demand for Japanese cuisine and processed eel products could potentially exacerbate the vulnerability of these species. This research examines the acceptability of conservation policies among Japanese consumers. A discrete choice experiment was employed to investigate the social acceptance of target levels for national eel consumption reduction and to examine the trade-offs made by individuals between various policy instruments (e.g., combat against illegal trade, research on artificial reproduction, shift to substitute species, public awareness campaigns, eco-labelling) and the costs that they may be willing to incur. The econometric analysis identified two distinct groups with contrasting preferences. The first group exhibited strong support for the current situation. Conversely, the second group expressed preferences for expanding public intervention. We further explored the sources of heterogeneity. Paradoxically, we found that education attainment and environmental knowledge in relation to consumption motivations influenced individual preferences for the status quo. However, individuals with higher pro-environmental attitudes are more likely to accept a national target of consumption reduction. They are willing to pay for demand-oriented policy instruments to complement existing supply-side measures