Recreation in coastal environments: Estimating the non-market value of fishing harbors

The importance of the fishing sector goes beyond food provisioning, by generating both positive and negative externalities. The benefits on tourism and the recreational appeal of coastal areas are often invoked among the positive externalities, even if their measurement may be hampered by the lack of market information. Non-market valuation methods can thus be useful to quantify the societal importance of fisheries. Here we focus on the recreational value of harbors by applying the travel cost method and analyzing whether small-scale vessels represent an attractive amenity for individuals engaging in outdoor recreation. We use an existing dataset with wide EU coverage, and match information on individuals' number of visits to coastal environments with fishing capacity indicators at the chosen recreational destination. The results suggest that the presence of small-scale capacity (e.g. vessels) increases the attractiveness of coastal locations, as we estimate the loss in recreational value due to a reduction in only one artisanal vessel to be 0.05€ per visit. By monetizing the welfare effects of changes in fishing capacity, these findings can justify the allocation of financial support to the small-scale fishery sector.