J. Mark Fly

Explaining public support for fisheries management alternatives.

Abstract Angler preferences for fisheries management alternatives were evaluated with probit and ordered probit regression techniques. The information provided by these models was sufficient to identify angler characteristics that influence support for various management alternatives. Older anglers preferred regulations that are uniform across reservoirs, whereas more highly educated and active anglers preferred individual reservoir regulations. More active anglers favored implementation of publicly popular regulations, even if the management agency believes the regulations to be nonbeneficial. Members of fishing clubs did not favor implementing popular regulations over agency objections. Educational level, club membership, and income were correlated with angler perceptions of regulatory complexity. These results suggest that agencies may engage in activities designed to efficiently target informational material to particular segments of the angling population.

Temporal Reliability in Contingent Valuation (With a Restrictive Research Budget).

JEL Classification: Q26 111

Fish consumption and the elderly: Implications for fish consumption advisories

This article discusses literature and an empirical study in Michigan related to the possibility that the elderly may be a group within the general population of sport anglers that needs special attention in fish consumption advisories. Levels offish consumption by the elderly (reviewed from literature) were not found to be conclusively determined. There is strong research support for the hypothesis that prescription drug chemicals are retained and biomagnified in the elderly; this finding may be indirect evidence that this is the case for environmental toxins as well. However, further research is needed on both these dimensions. The empirical study reported here found that the elderly are more aware of specific advisory information than younger sport anglers but that behaviorally they do not respond as well as younger groups to advisories that recommend trimming fat. Combined with the possibility for increased toxic chemical retention in the elderly, this finding suggests that intensifying targeted commun...

Estimating Tennessee Residents' Willingness to pay for Teaming with Wildlife

Abstract A contingent valuation model of support for the Teaming with Wildlife (TWW) proposal is reported for Tennessee residents. Based on a random digit dial telephone survey, the preferred statistical model found the median tax rate supported by Tennessee residents for nongame species management is approximately 1.4%. This is commensurate with the tax rates contained in proposed TWW legislation. Residents who engage in recreation activities subject to the TWW tax are more likely to support the program than those who do not engage in these activities. The results indicate Teaming with Wildlife enjoys support among the population it directly taxes.