Research Article

Public attitudes towards the environmental impact of salmon aquaculture in Scotland

  1. David Whitmarsh1,*,
  2. Premachandra Wattage2

Article first published online: 22 MAR 2006

DOI: 10.1002/eet.406

Issue

European Environment

European Environment

Volume 16, Issue 2, pages 108–121, March/April 2006

Additional Information

How to Cite

Whitmarsh, D. and Wattage, P. (2006), Public attitudes towards the environmental impact of salmon aquaculture in Scotland. European Environment, 16: 108–121. doi: 10.1002/eet.406

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Economics, University of Portsmouth, UK

  2. 2

    CEMARE, University of Portsmouth, UK

*Department of Economics, University of Portsmouth, Richmond Building, Portland Street, Portsmouth PO1 3DE, UK

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 22 MAR 2006
  2. Article first published online: 22 MAR 2006
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 6 DEC 2005
  4. Manuscript Revised: 25 NOV 2005
  5. Manuscript Received: 11 MAY 2005

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Keywords:

  • aquaculture;
  • pollution;
  • externality;
  • economic cost;
  • attitude survey

Abstract

This paper reports the results of a survey of public attitudes towards aquaculture, using salmon farming in Scotland as a case study. The aims have been to identify the priority that people attach to the environmental performance of the salmon aquaculture industry, relative to other objectives, and to measure the economic benefits to society from salmon farmed using methods that cause less organic pollution. The results indicate that the public attach a relatively high importance to minimizing environmental damage from aquaculture, and this has its parallel in the finding that people are willing to pay a price premium for salmon produced in a more environmentally benign way. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

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