Factors effecting the demand for recreational fishing opportunities in Finnish lakes during the 1980s

Recreational fishing is one of the most popular leisure activities in Finland and an essential factor in the exploitation of Finnish lake fisheries resources. Fisheries resources are under private control, with a functioning market of fishing licences. In spite of this, empirical studies concerning the factors affecting the recreational fishery market are rare. During the years 1974–1991, which precede and follow the Finnish fisheries law reform of 1983, a total of 1584 sites were put on the market. In this study empirical single equation demand models were specified and estimated. Demand was measured by participation rate, i.e. by the total number of recreational fishermen and fishing days. By linear regression analysis models were found which explained up to 58–65% of the demand for recreational fishing. The results suggest that the average annual price index (FIM 25/a in 1991) for recreational fishing was so low that it did not affect the market behaviour of recreational fishermen. Neither was the pricing of recreational fishing licences related to the characteristics of fishing sites. The pricing policy seems to be rather a function of social values than economic forces and consequently provides only weak signals for creating improvements in recreational fishing opportunities.