Valuation of Atlantic salmon sport fishing in New England and an economic analysis of farming adult Atlantic salmon for a sport fishery

• Main Author: Maharaj, Vishwanie
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: DigitalCommons@URI 1995
• Subjects: Agricultural economics|Recreation|Aquaculture|Fish production; Atlantic salmon
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/dissertations/AAI9633499

This study focuses on estimating demand for Atlantic salmon sport fishing, in New England. Sport fishing demand is modeled as a function of attributes of salmon fishing opportunities, and characteristics of salmon anglers. To collect data for estimating this demand function, a survey was conducted in Maine during June and July 1993, where contingent behavior questions were used to elicit hypothetical demand. A total of 369 questionnaires were administered, in-person, to Atlantic salmon anglers at club meetings and various Atlantic salmon rivers in Maine. Tobit demand models with only site attributes as explanatory variables are modified to explore the influence of angler characteristics on sport fishing demand. Inclusion of demographics improves the fit significantly, but this due to the presence of income in this variable set. From statistical tests it is apparent that demographic variables, age, education, and resident status have no significant explanatory power. Compared to these demographics, variables reflecting the angler's level of interest better explain demand for Atlantic salmon sport fishing. In addition, anglers' motives for fishing appear to be linked to attributes of the sport fishery. For example, anglers with catch related motives have strong preferences for fish size, catch rate, and wild fish. Models with level of interest variables and motives for fishing give better out of sample predictions than models with demographics and models with site attributes. These results suggest that accounting for anglers' level of interest and motives for fishing may be necessary for accurate benefits transfer, especially if there are significant differences between the study population and transfer population. Providing a number of assumptions hold, optimization results indicate that it would be economically viable to rear adult Atlantic salmon for a sport fishery. Depending on the scenario, net benefits range from $450,000 to \$520,000 for a sport fishery created and supported by government funds, and optimal net revenue ranges from $48,000 to \$300,000 for private fee fishing.