Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-8bhkd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-08T08:03:07.589Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The non-extractive economic value of spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, in the Turks and Caicos Islands

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 May 2002

Murray A. Rudd
Affiliation:
Mansholt Graduate School, Wageningen University, Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN Wageningen, The Netherlands

Abstract

Increases in spiny lobster size and abundance have been observed within some marine protected areas (MPAs). To date, the potential economic benefits of these changes have been assumed to derive from the effects of emigration of adult lobster to adjacent fishing grounds and/or increased larval export to downstream nurseries that sustain fisheries. According to economic theory, these effects may provide consumptive (extractive) economic value to the fishery but are only part of the total economic value. Non-extractive economic value resulting from viewing wildlife may also have an important impact on the overall economic viability of some MPAs. This research examined scuba diver preferences in the Turks and Caicos Islands using a paired comparison conjoint survey and assessed the influence that spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) presence had on market share for dive charter packages of varying environmental quality and price. Market simulations showed significant increases in market share for dives where spiny lobsters were present, implying, for the first time, that spiny lobsters have non-extractive economic value. This non-extractive value of spiny lobster may have an important impact on the economic viability of some MPAs, especially those in regions like the Turks and Caicos Islands that are highly dependent on marine-oriented nature tourism.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2001 Foundation for Environmental Conservation

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)