Abstract:
This study estimates willingness to pay (WTP) for different sustainable ecosystem management
measures in the Jaffna lagoon. For this study, 118 fishermen were randomly
selected along the lagoon. Choice modelling approach was employed and a conditional
logit model was developed. This study found that fishermen from village communities are
willing to pay more for increasing the number of mangroves and improving tourist facilities.
The availability of land for planting mangroves and improving tourist facilities and
increasing income from other sources positively influence the fisherman’s WTP for sustainable
ecosystem management. Establishing fishing harbour facilities, properly planned
multi-storey housing units in town areas would increase fishermen’s support for planting
mangroves and developing tourist spots. Increasing income from other sources and fishermen’s
awareness on the impact of inappropriate fishing gears and enforcing mechanism
would increase fishermen’s support to ban the inappropriate fishing gears. Based on this
study, government authority could make appropriate policy for urban and village coastal
lagoon ecosystem management.
