Willingness to Pay for a Saltwater Recreational Fishing License: A Comparison of Angler Groups

We consider the proposed saltwater recreational fishing license in North Carolina and compare three samples of recreational anglers: fishing club members, commercial license holders without an endorsement to sell, and intercepted anglers. Anglers are faced with a dichotomous choice willingness-to-pa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine resource economics 2001, Vol.16 (3), p.177-194
Main Authors: WHITEHEAD, JOHN C., CLIFFORD, WILLIAM B., HOBAN, THOMAS J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Economic aspects
Fees
Finance
Fish and game licenses
Fisheries management
Fishers
Fishing licenses
Fresh water
Hunting and fishing clubs
Laws, regulations and rules
Marine
Ocean fisheries
Saltwater
Sport fishing
Statistical significance
Variable coefficients
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Summary:We consider the proposed saltwater recreational fishing license in North Carolina and compare three samples of recreational anglers: fishing club members, commercial license holders without an endorsement to sell, and intercepted anglers. Anglers are faced with a dichotomous choice willingness-to-pay question with multiple follow-ups by telephone and in-person surveys. While support for the saltwater license as a management tool is relatively low, most anglers are willing to purchase a license if it is required for fishing and if the funds are used to improve fishing quality. Fishing club members have the highest willingness to pay among the three groups. Several differences in the determinants of willingness to pay emerge. An estimate of the potential revenue from the fishing license fee is $18 million. An estimate of the potential net benefit from improved fishing quality resulting from management activities funded by the license fee is $71 million.
ISSN:0738-1360
2334-5985
DOI:10.1086/mre.16.3.42629318