Carole Ropars-Collet

Commercial Fisheries as an Asset for Recreational Demand on the Coast: Evidence from a Choice Experiment

ABSTRACT Tourists and visitors to the seaside who seek authentic places with a real identity can lead to an opportunity to maintain some seaside fishing activities. In this context, fishing activities not only provide commodity goods but also have other functions. In this respect, the concept of the multifunctionality of fishing activities is emerging. We focus on the provision of amenities from the fishing sector, such as the presence of fishing boats or the direct sale of seafood, for which there is a demand that partly conditions an individuals choice of places to visit on the coast. We used a choice experiments method to estimate willingness to pay for these amenities which are produced jointly by commercial fishing. The empirical study was conducted on a sample of more than 2,000 people surveyed along the coasts of the English Channel and the North Sea. JEL Codes: C35, C9, Q22, Q26.