Work

Consumer preferences for an invasive species as a seafood option – evidence from discrete choice experiments

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Lionfish, as an invasive species, significantly disrupts marine ecosystems. Promoting lionfish as eatable seafood among consumers may effectively reduce the lionfish population, alleviating its impact on marine ecosystems. The primary goal of this article is to assess lionfish’s market potential and determine an effective policy instrument to nudge consumers’ preference for lionfish. Discrete choice experiments are used to elicit consumer preferences for seafood dishes. In addition, we use a split-sample approach to test the effects of providing information about the ecological benefit of eating lionfish. Results indicate that consumer willingness-to-pays for other fish species were substantially higher than that of lionfish, even with the information treatment.

Source: Agricultural and Resource Economics Review

DOI: 10.1017/age.2025.16

Authors: Julian J. Hwang, Zhifeng Gao

Institutions: West Virginia University, University of Florida

Language: English

Topic: Economic and Environmental Valuation

Subfield: Economics and Econometrics

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Life below water

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,600