An Application of Behavioral Modeling to Characterize Urban Angling Decisions and Values

Abstract

Although many recreational anglers reside in urban areas, important policy questions, such as how to optimally improve urban shorelines and increase urban angler participation rates, are unresolved. This article presents an econometric model that quantifies the relationships between site quality, angler characteristics, and urban angling behavior in five northeastern New Jersey counties. The model employed (repeated nested logit) is prominent in the environmental economics literature but has not to our knowledge been applied to urban fishery management. The results indicate that the repeated nested logit can effectively characterize urban anglers’ site choices, participation rates, and resource values. The article presents two models whose differences highlight considerations in modeling urban angling behavior. The first includes variables typically found in recreational-fishing, site-choice models. The second (and preferred) model includes variables that more appropriately characterize urban angling. This model predicts approximately 2,341,000 total annual trips. Adding a fishing site in a centrally located but industrial area (Newark) generates direct economic benefits to recreational anglers that are estimated at US$101,179 per year. The new site is expected to draw 1,571 trips annually. Of these trips, 154 are new and 1,417 are diverted from other sites. Adding a new site with similar characteristics on the same water body in a less industrial area (Garfield) generates estimated direct benefits of $312,419 per year. This new site draws an expected 14,814 trips annually. Of these trips, 247 arise from increased angling rates and 14,567 are diverted from other sites. These results illustrate the usefulness of this modeling approach for assessing management objectives. For example, a manager hoping to increase angling participation might prefer the Newark project if it could be completed at half the price; a manager intending to maximize social benefits or reduce pressure at other sites would pay a substantial premium for the Garfield project.

Received November 3, 2009; accepted December 30, 2010

Notes

^aSee Table 3.