ABSTRACT Objective Black bass Micropterus spp. are some of the most targeted species by recreational anglers in freshwater, and angling associated with these fisheries provides high economic value nationally and locally, especially in the southeastern United States. Angler interest and effort in rivers have been increasing in recent years, but little is known about the economic value of black bass angling on these systems. The objectives of this study were to (1) estimate annual use and economic value of black bass angling on two Alabama rivers and (2) use these values to develop user loss values that could be used by managers to derive restitution claims for future fish kills. Methods The economic value of black bass fisheries on the Cahaba and Locust Fork rivers in Alabama was assessed using trail cameras and a roving creel survey to estimate angling effort and the number of annual angling trips in 2021. Total angler expenditures were categorized and estimated using follow-up phone surveys. Angler demand and consumer surplus was estimated using the travel cost method with a negative binomial distribution. Angler return time to these rivers following a fish kill or loss of black bass abundance was estimated using a contingent behavior survey question. Estimated annual trips, expenditures, and angler return time were then used in developing user loss values across varying degrees of reduced black bass abundance. Results Black bass anglers fished 13, 373 h (SE, 603 h) and 5, 689 h (SE, 380 h) over an estimated 3, 343 and 1, 421 trips on the Cahaba and Locust Fork rivers, respectively, accounting for 58% of total angling effort on the Cahaba River and 53% on the Locust Fork River. The median trip expenditures by anglers was US47; therefore, these black bass fisheries generated over 223, 000 in annual expenditures. The number of trips that an angler would make to the rivers increased with black bass catch per effort but was inversely related to travel cost. Consumer surplus was estimated to be 67 per visit and over 319, 000 as an annual aggregate. Dependent on the degree of black bass abundance lost, angler return time ranged from 0. 09 to 2. 9 years. This would result in the loss of 301 to 9, 695 trips and 14, 141 to 455, 651 in expenditures for the Cahaba River and 128 to 4, 121 trips and 6, 011 to 193, 682 in expenditures on the Locust Fork River. Conclusions Findings from this study show that the economic value of riverine black bass fisheries can be substantial, comparable to other riverine fisheries in the southeastern United States, but lower than popular reservoirs in the region. These results are useful as a starting point for fisheries managers in the southeastern USA when considering budget allocation for river fisheries or seeking to include user loss values in a restitution claim following a fish-kill event. As river fishing for black bass becomes more popular, it is reasonable to expect these fisheries to experience a commensurate increase in economic value and impact.
Carson et al. (Thu,) studied this question.