Use of Survey Data to Estimate Economic Value and Regional Economic Effects of Fishery Improvements

Abstract

This paper demonstrates a straightforward, survey-based approach that allows fisheries economists and managers to go beyond acquiring just a snapshot of current economic value and regional economic effects to estimate how angler use, benefits, and regional effects (e.g., tourism jobs) would increase with increases in the number or size of fish caught. This is performed by linking responses from intended visitation questions to contingent valuation and input–output models. In a case study of the Snake River in Idaho and Wyoming, I determined that for a 100% increase in angler catch, angler use would increase by 64.5% and would create a corresponding increase in annual economic value and jobs. A similar relationship was found for increases in the size of fish caught.