Estimating the value of marine resources: a marine recreation case

This paper discusses the concept of economic value in relation to the appraisal of marine environmental resources. The difficulties of placing monetary values on environmental goods and services for which there is no market are briefly reviewed. A case study is presented which uses contingent valuation to estimate the user value associated with a recreational beach. The paper concludes that economic valuation of environmental resources is feasible and can improve the information basis of public decision-making in marine and coastal environments.