A stated preference choice approach to understanding angler preferences for management options

Abstract

This study investigated the choices anglers make between hypothetical fishing trips as defined by harvest regulations, fishing expectations, and trip costs and ranking the various management scenarios being considered. A fractional factorial design required generation of 80 choice sets. A conditional logit model was used to estimate the preference model. All estimated coefficients of attributes had expected signs except for the “retain more fish greater than the maximum size limit” variable. Anglers did not favor regulations allowing retention of more fish above the current bag limit. The status quo scenario (with most conservative harvest restrictions) was least preferred, as expected. The most liberal harvest restriction scenario was most preferred. When angler expectations were changed, anglers wanted more stringent management that closely resembled the status quo option. Anglers were willing to relax certain rules and seemed to be choosing conservation of fishery resources over exploitation.

Source: Oh, C.-O., Ditton, R., Gentner, B. and R. Reichers. 2005. "A stated preference choice approach to understanding angler preferences for management options." Human Dimensions of Wildlife, 10: 3: 173-186.

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