Valuating the preservation of aesthetic stream viewing by ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis altivelis) stock enhancement

Abstract

The stock enhancement of ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis altivelis, by inland water fisheries cooperatives improves the productivity of inland water fisheries and recreational fishing and has an incidental function of preserving aesthetic stream viewing by preventing benthic algal proliferation. This study estimated the economic value of preserving aesthetic stream viewing by ayu stock enhancement and determined the factors that affect the economic value of preserving aesthetic stream viewing. We applied the double-bounded dichotomous choice contingent valuation method (CVM) using a questionnaire completed by 838 respondents from all over Japan, excluding Hokkaido and Okinawa. We found that the mean willingness to pay (WTP) for preserving aesthetic stream viewing by ayu stock enhancement corresponded to 4,216 yen per household. The important factors influencing the respondents' WTP were: respondents' experience of walking or jogging alongside the stream; swimming or playing in the stream; climbing a gorge; respondents living within 1 km of the stream; respondents who earn a higher annual household income; respondents who could pay the lower bid amount listed in the questionnaire. © 2012, The Japanese Society of Limnology. All rights reserved.