Behavioural Economics for Understanding Recreational Fishers and Fisheries

Abstract

Abstract Fisher behaviour is a key consideration and source of uncertainty for recreational fisheries management. All human behaviour is complex and thus difficult to understand, predict, and manage. In recreational fisheries, classical economic theories of profit maximization or rational choice tend to poorly explain fisher behaviour. Consequently, policy interventions that fail to understand and anticipate behavioural responses of fishers tend to fail their intended objectives. The topic of behavioural economics offers an opening by enriching our understanding of fisher behaviour by studying how psychological mechanisms such as behavioural preferences, beliefs, and cognitive biases affect behaviour. The behavioural economic literature can be leveraged to better understand the impacts of fishery management systems. Identifying behavioural regularities and mechanisms can help to inform and improve the current monitoring, control, and surveillance model of management. Potential applications for novel recreational fisheries management build upon a rich theoretical literature and practice. In this chapter, we introduce behavioural economics and its key theories, describe the types of methods used to study recreational fisher behaviour, explain past applications in recreational fisheries research and management, provide some best practices when applying behavioural economics in research and in the field, and consider future prospects.

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