Valuing Provision Scenarios of Coastal Ecosystem Services: The Case of Boat Ramp Closures Due to Harmful Algae Blooms in Florida

Sergio Alvarez,Daniel Solís,Frank Lupi,Michael Thomas

doi:10.3390/w11061250

Sergio Alvarez, Daniel Solís + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/w11061250

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Abstract

Ecosystem service flows may change or disappear temporarily or permanently as a result of environmental changes or ecological disturbances. In coastal areas, ecological disturbances caused by toxin-producing harmful algae blooms can impact flows of ecosystem services, particularly provisioning (e.g., seafood harvesting) and cultural services (e.g., recreation). This study uses a random utility model of recreational boating choices to simulate changes in the value of cultural ecosystem services provided by recreation in coastal ecosystems resulting from prolonged ecological disturbances caused by harmful algae blooms. The empirical application relies on observed trips to 35 alternative boat access ramps in Lee County, an important marine access destination in southwest Florida. Results indicate that reduced boating access from harmful algae blooms may have resulted in losses of $3 million for the 2018 blooms, which lasted from the end of June to the end of September.

Highlights

Coastal ecosystems provide a diversity of services that contribute to social well-being
It is important to note that while these results provide an estimate of some losses in ecosystem services arising from harmful algae blooms (HABs), they do not provide a complete picture of all losses in ecosystem services resulting from these events
A random utility models (RUMs) model was used to compute the value of changing site characteristics as well as to estimate the value of access for available recreational boating sites in Lee County

Summary

Introduction

Coastal ecosystems provide a diversity of services that contribute to social well-being. While human use and enjoyment of some of these services are captured (and measurable) by market transactions, most uses of these vital ecosystem services are not Among these non-market ecosystem services, perhaps the most readily measurable is recreational use of waterways, services related to recreational boating. In 2017 there were close to 12 million registered recreational boats in the United States (US), and nearly 1 million of these were in FL [1]. These boaters enjoy the cultural services provided by clean waterways and healthy coastal ecosystems. Understanding the monetary value of these services can help coastal managers and policy-makers in their decision-making processes

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