Effects of Regulations on Expected Catch, Expected Harvest, and Site Choice of Recreational Anglers

Abstract

The use of public lands and waterways is often subject to environmental regulations designed to limit the depletion of resource stocks. Such regulations may influence expectations of quality, destination choice, and consumer surplus. This paper examines the effects of environmental regulations on recreational anglers. The empirical application develops a joint model of expected catch and expected harvest in conjunction with a random utility model of site choice. Findings for Maine anglers indicate that regulations have sizable effects on catch and harvest, site choice, and welfare.

Keywords: consumers, fisheries, nonmarket valuation, recreation demand, regulations