Abstract
Oyster aquaculture has experienced tremendous growth in the United States over the past decade, but little is known about consumer preferences for oysters. This study analyzed preferences for oysters with varied combinations of brands, production locations, and production methods (aquaculture vs. wild-caught) using dichotomous choice, revealed preference economic field experiments. Results suggest significant and distinct differences in behavior between first-time and regular oyster consumers. While infrequent oyster consumers were drawn to oysters labeled as wild-caught, experienced oyster consumers preferred oysters raised via aquaculture. These findings will be valuable for growers and policymakers who invest in aquaculture to improve surrounding ecosystems.
Highlights
Oyster aquaculture has experienced tremendous growth in the United States over the past decade, but little is known about consumer preferences for oysters
We find that frequent oyster consumers were willing to pay a significant price premium for aquaculture oysters, which signals to policy makers the potential for expanding oyster aquaculture
In the United States, consumers’ interest in oysters has grown rapidly in recent years, coinciding with an increase in the number of oysters produced through aquaculture operations in the mid-Atlantic region over the past five years
Summary
Oyster aquaculture has experienced tremendous growth in the United States over the past decade, but little is known about consumer preferences for oysters. While infrequent oyster consumers were drawn to oysters labeled as wild-caught, experienced oyster consumers preferred oysters raised via aquaculture. These findings will be valuable for growers and policymakers who invest in aquaculture to improve surrounding ecosystems. Virginia has reported substantial growth in shellfish aquaculture; revenue for oyster growers in 2014 was estimated at $15.4 million, a 39-percent increase over 2013 (Hudson and Murray 2015). Beuttle (2011) estimated that establishing 160 acres of oyster aquaculture in Delaware (the number of acres of oyster aquaculture in Rhode Island at the time) would create jobs and benefit the local economy and provide environmental benefits by filtering between 9 percent and 22.5 percent of the water in Delaware’s inland bays each day In 2013, Delaware legislature passed House Bill 160 (147th General Assembly), designating certain areas in Delaware’s inland bays for development of shellfish aquaculture. Beuttle (2011) estimated that establishing 160 acres of oyster aquaculture in Delaware (the number of acres of oyster aquaculture in Rhode Island at the time) would create jobs and benefit the local economy and provide environmental benefits by filtering between 9 percent and 22.5 percent of the water in Delaware’s inland bays each day
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