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Protecting Species through Legislation: The Case of Sea Turtles

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  • Michael Brei
  • Agustín Pérez‐Barahona
  • Eric Strobl

Abstract

We evaluate the effectiveness of legislation in reducing the negative impacts of beachfront lighting on sea turtle nesting activity, one of the main threats to the species. To this end we construct a time varying index of ordinance effectiveness across Florida counties and combine this with loggerhead nesting data to create a panel data set covering a twenty‐six year period. Our econometric findings show that such legislation can significantly increase nesting activity, where current levels of protection result in an additional 34%. Using our estimates within a calibrated population model we also demonstrate that legislation can reduce the time to the animals’ extinction. Finally, when considering estimates of local willingness to pay for sea turtle preservation, we show that alternatively raising sea turtles in captivity under a head start program may be prohibitively expensive.

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  • Michael Brei & Agustín Pérez‐Barahona & Eric Strobl, 2020. "Protecting Species through Legislation: The Case of Sea Turtles," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 102(1), pages 300-328, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:ajagec:v:102:y:2020:i:1:p:300-328
    DOI: 10.1093/ajae/aaz025
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    1. Cameron,A. Colin & Trivedi,Pravin K., 2013. "Regression Analysis of Count Data," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781107667273, January.
    2. Daowei Zhang, 2004. "Endangered Species and Timber Harvesting: The Case of Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 42(1), pages 150-165, January.
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    4. Brei, Michael & Pérez-Barahona, Agustín & Strobl, Eric, 2016. "Environmental pollution and biodiversity: Light pollution and sea turtles in the Caribbean," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 95-116.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lucas Bretschger & Karen Pittel, 2020. "Twenty Key Challenges in Environmental and Resource Economics," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 77(4), pages 725-750, December.

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