Beyond Fishing: The Value of Maritime Cultural Heritage in Germany

TL;DR

This study quantifies the monetary value of maritime cultural heritage in Germany, showing how cultural attitudes influence preferences and willingness to pay for heritage-related seafood attributes.

Contribution

It provides the first comprehensive quantitative analysis of maritime cultural heritage's value, linking attitudes to economic preferences in seafood consumption.

Findings

Positive willingness to pay for cultural heritage in shrimp dishes

Attitudes towards cultural heritage are stronger in towns with awareness campaigns

Preferences are significantly influenced by individual attitudes

Abstract

The importance of maritime heritage in providing benefits such as a sense of place and identity has been widely discussed. However, there remains a lack of comprehensive quantitative analysis, particularly regarding monetary valuation and its impact on people's preferences. In this study, I present the results of a choice experiment that assesses the value of the maritime cultural heritage associated with shrimp fishing through seafood consumption preferences in Germany. Additionally, I investigate people's attitudes toward cultural heritage and examine how these attitudes affect their stated preferences. I find that these attitudes are significantly stronger in towns where local fishermen led a prominent awareness campaign on fishing culture during the study period. Moreover, I observe a positive willingness to pay for a cultural heritage attribute in shrimp dishes, which varies depending on individuals' attitudes toward cultural heritage.