Keith S. Evans

Consumer preferences for seafood attributes of wild-harvested and farm-raised products

ABSTRACT With the increase in consumer interest in local foods and the expectation of the USDA to unveil standards for organic aquaculture U.S. shellfish and seaweed producers could anticipate changes in consumer choices with increased product information. This study investigates consumer preferences for product attributes of shellfish and seaweed salad focusing on production source (farm-raised, wild-harvested), certification status (organic, sustainably harvested, non-certified), and product origin (home state, U.S., imported). We analyze data from a nationwide online survey of coastal residents capturing consumption choices for oysters, clams, mussels, scallops, and seaweed salad. Analysis reveals that while consumers express preferences for wild-harvested products, the magnitude may differ for shellfish and seaweed salad products in comparison to previous findings regarding finfish preferences. Further, consumers are willing to pay more for products that bear a certification label or are from their home state. Results from this study suggest that seafood marketing strategies and development of labeling programs must account for the influence of multiple attributes on consumer choice.

An Economic Analysis of Coastal Beach Safety Information-Seeking Behavior

We estimate a bivariate probit model using data from a survey of Maine and New Hampshire beachgoers to (i) assess the impact of exposure to and contact with beach waters on safety information-seeking behaviors, and (ii) compare information-seeking behaviors for surf conditions and water quality information. We find that individuals who engage in certain high-contact recreation activities (i.e., swimming, fishing, surfing) are more likely to seek out safety information and that some potential drivers of this behavior affect searches differently for surf conditions versus water quality information.

Public Acceptance of Coastal Zone Management Efforts: The Role of Citizen Preferences in the Allocation of Funds

We investigate allocation of funds by citizens across management options addressing impairments to coastal water quality. We study systematic variation in citizen allocation of funds to adaptive versus preventative strategies including the impact of referundum choices and test whether allocations will be impacted by cuing in the design of the referendum. Two key policy insights from our results: citizens who vote no on a water quality referendum have different preferences over allocating funds and providing cues to voters influenced allocation behavior. These results can assist decision makers in thinking about language used to communicate coastal water quality issues, particularly budget referenda.

Aligning Economic and Ecological Priorities: Conflicts, Complementarities, and Regulatory Frictions

Four key policy challenges, framed here as dichotomies, are commonly associated with attempts to improve the use of natural resources in the socioecological commons. These dichotomies present tradeoffs when addressing market failures and in general seem to suggest the need to settle for second-best outcomes rather than first-best outcomes identified in stylized models. Citing examples, we argue that these models, while illustrating these dichotomies, also suggest means for circumventing them, and perhaps provide a degree of optimism about prospective outcomes in socioecological systems.