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Evaluating the effects of area closure for recreational fishing in a coral reef ecosystem: The benefits of an integrated economic and biophysical modeling


Posted on 08 September 2011

TitleEvaluating the effects of area closure for recreational fishing in a coral reef ecosystem: The benefits of an integrated economic and biophysical modeling
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2011
AuthorsGao, L, Hailu A
JournalEcological Economics
Volume70
Issue10
Pagination1735 - 1745
Date Published8/2011
ISSN09218009
Keywordsbiodiversity, human use, Ningaloo, socio-economy, threats
AbstractThis paper presents an integrated agent-based model of recreational fishing behavior within a reef ecosystem as a platform for the evaluation of recreational fishing management strategies. Angler behavior is described using econometrically estimated site choice models, with site choice among anglers driven by site attributes and angler characteristics. The biophysical model represents the marine reef environment as a system with different trophic levels identifying algal and coral growth as well as two types of fish (piscivores and herbivores). Ecosystem dynamics are driven by interactions within the trophic levels and interaction between fish populations and fishing activities. The model is used to simulate recreational fishing activities and their interactions with the environment. Recreational fishing sites from the Ningaloo Marine Park, an iconic coral reef system in Western Australia, are used as a case study. A set of management strategies, including “business-as-usual” and different site closure durations, are assessed for two different levels of fishing pressures. The results show that not only the effectiveness but also the distribution of management impacts across space and over time can be very different from what one would expect without the benefit of integrated modeling.
URLhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921800911001674
DOI10.1016/j.ecolecon.2011.04.014
Short TitleEcological Economics
Refereed DesignationRefereed