The economic value of freshwater inputs to an estuarine fishery

摘要: Abstract The health of many estuarine and coastal ecosystems depends on upstream hydrology; however, there is limited information the economic effects restricting freshwater flow to coast. We investigate role inputs blue crab fishery in Georgia, USA. Blue crabs are known respond salinity changes estuaries which they reside, declining coast over last 50 years correlated with increases average falling commercial harvests. A structural, bioeconomic model reveals have significant outcomes. Simulations a counterfactual minimum-flow standard for three different rivers, set at 25% 50-year averages, suggest such policy would result measurable benefits fishery, improving profits by 35% ($1.7 million) during period 2002–2012 fishing areas data were available. Aggregating necessary additional water releases achieve this yields an approximate value between $1 $7 per acre-foot.