There is a long tradition of recreational red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) fishing in northern California. The fishery is enjoyed by tens of thousands of fishers along Sonoma and Mendocino counties, but little is known about its economic value. Recreational fisheries are difficult to value because the catch is not sold commercially and the activity is dispersed along the coastline. For this study, we estimated the value to the fishers of the recreational red abalone fishery using the travel-cost estimation method, a non-market valuation approach. Using data for the 2013 season at more than 50 sites, we find that approximately 31,000 fishers derived between $24M and $44M per year of recreational value from the fishery. The lower figure was estimated based solely on fishers’ driving costs, while the larger estimate results when also considering the time fishers spent on the activity. Examination of site-level variables influencing the choice made by fishers among the sites shows that key site selection criteria included 1) impacts of a harmful algal bloom in Sonoma County, 2) protection from northwest ocean swell, and 3) presence of amenities such as boat launches and restrooms. We show that the value of the fishery declined nearly $12M after stricter regulations were imposed in 2014 following a harmful algal bloom that killed thousands of abalone in Sonoma County. The economic value of the fishery clearly warrants investment in both the biological and economic sustainability of this important resource.
