The Michigan Recreational Angling Demand Model

Abstract

The paper reports on a large-scale demand model for recreational fishing in Michigan. The model is based on the travel cost method and is specified as a four-level nested-logit. Seasonal participation is modeled by repeating the site choice logit over the course of a season. Data on anglers' trips and site choices were collected using a year-long telephone panel survey of over 1,900 Michigan residents. The model distinguishes among a broad range of fishing trip types including trips of different lengths; trips for different species; and trips to Great Lake, inland lake, and inland stream sites. For Great Lakes fishing, anglers' site choices are related to catch rates which vary spatially and temporally (i.e., time-varying site quality characteristics).