Work

Tight lines: Algal bloom, anglers perception, and economic impact of recreational fishing – The case of lake Okeechobee, Florida

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Recreational fisheries are increasingly vulnerable to environmental degradation. Understanding the dynamics of nature-based recreation and the attendant tourism economy requires an integrative modeling framework that captures the interplay of seasonality, uncertainty, and users’ response to ecological stressors. This study presents a model focusing on Lake Okeechobee—a recreational bass fishery in USA. Landuse activities surrounding the lake contribute to elevated nutrient levels, resulting in harmful algal blooms (HABs) that affect recreational activities. Using primary and secondary data and stochastic input-output model, the study quantifies tourism-related economic losses due to HABs. In 2019, recreational fishing generated about $369 million in economic output, supporting 2700 jobs and $122 million in earnings. Under less severe and extreme HAB scenarios, regional earnings could decline by 7.74% and 44.32%, respectively. These findings underscore the importance of understanding connections between environmental quality, system uncertainty, seasonality, user behavior, and economic impacts when planning for sustainable nature-based tourism.

Source: Tourism Economics

DOI: 10.1177/13548166251374358

Authors: Chloe’ C Vorseth, Mahadev G Bhat, G Andrew Stainback

Institutions: United States Army Corps of Engineers, Florida International University, Baylor University

Language: English

Topic: Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics

Subfield: Environmental Chemistry

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Life below water, Clean water and sanitation

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: National Science Foundation, Florida International University, Everglades Foundation