INDIVIDUAL PERCEPTIONS OF THE IMPACT OF FISHING ON THE HALIEUTIC RESOURCES: EUROPEAN EVIDENCE

摘要

Our paper aims to study the image of the European fisheries sector, as perceived by European citizens. To our knowledge, no approach has focused on the perceived impact of fishing on the halieutic resources. More precisely, we seek to analyze the perceived impact on the marine environment of fishing activities in 5 European countries. Basing on a European sample, we examine the determinants of individual perceptions of the fishing impact on halieutic resources. Moreover, in order to put forward common and national specificities, we estimate the perceived impact for the five countries separately. We evidence that sociodemographic characteristics do not show significant effects on the perception except for age where young people seem to be more sensitive to this ecological issue. However, the perceived impact of fishing on halieutic resources is positively associated to the extent of fishing activities, whereas pollution and global warming surprisingly do not exert significant influence: this resultimplies that only fishing activities are perceived as having an impact on the biomass. In addition, our estimates show that the subjective impact on halieutic resources is positively influenced by the perceived level of fishing regulation, while an increasing time spent in seaside reduces it. Finally, we show the existence of important national differences in the way in which individuals apprehend the impact of fishing activities on the marine environment. Whereas Italy occupies an intermediate position, Denmark and France are characterized by a more favourable awareness of the perception of the fishing impact than Belgium and the Netherlands.