Fernando Cagua, Neal Collins, James Hancock, and Richard Rees
We apply structural controllability to pollination networks and are able to identify a set of species that are critical to changing the state of the community and underpin the stable coexistence of species in their communities. This project has been published as a peer-reviewed article at the Peer J.
Please cite as "Cagua EF, Collins N, Hancock J, Rees R. 2014. Whale shark economics: a valuation of wildlife tourism in South Ari Atoll, Maldives. PeerJ 2:e515 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.515."
Whale sharks attract large numbers of tourists, divers and snorkelers each year to South Ari Atoll in the Republic of Maldives. Yet without information regarding the use and economic extent of the attraction, it is difficult to prioritize conservation or implement effective management plans. We used empirical recreational data and generalized mixed statistical models to conduct the first economic valuation (with direct spend as the primary proxy) of whale shark tourism in Maldives. We estimated that direct expenditures for whale shark focused tourism in the South Ari Marine Protected Area for 2012 and 2013 accounted for US$7.6 and $9.4 million respectively. These expenditures are based on an estimate of 72,000–78,000 tourists who are involved in whale shark excursions annually. That substantial amount of income to resort owners and operators, and tourism businesses in a relatively small area highlights the need to implement regulations and management that safeguard the sustainability of the industry through ensuring guest satisfaction and whale shark conservation.
Subjects: Conservation Biology, Marine Biology, Coupled Natural and Human Systems
Keywords: Economic valuation, Wildlife tourism, Whale shark, Maldives, Regression model, Direct spend, MPA management, Shark watching