The non-extractive economic value of spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, in the Turks and Caicos Islands

Increases in spiny lobster size and abundance have been observed within som e marine protected areas (MPAs). To date, the potential economic benefits o f these changes have been assumed to derive from the effects of emigration of adult lobster to adjacent fishing grounds and/or increased larval export to downstream nurseries that sustain fisheries. According to economic theo ry, these effects may provide consumptive (extractive) economic value to th e fishery but are only part of the total economic value, Non-extractive eco nomic value resulting from viewing wildlife may also have an important impa ct on the overall economic viability of some MPAs. This research examined s cuba diver preferences in the Turks and Caicos Islands using a paired compa rison conjoint survey and assessed the influence that spiny lobster (Panuli rus argus) presence had on market share for dive charter packages of varyin g environmental quality and price. Market simulations showed significant in creases in market share for dives where spiny lobsters were present, implyi ng, for the first time, that spiny lobsters have non-extractive economic va lue. This non-extractive value of spiny lobster may have an important impac t on the economic viability of some MPAs, especially those in regions like the Turks and Caicos Islands that are highly dependent on marineoriented na ture tourism.