Identifying the Actual Willingness to Reduce Overfishing with a Fishnet Auction: Evidence from Artisanal Fishing Villages in Brazil

In this field study we implemented a fishnet exchange program to investigate the actual willingness of fishermen to reduce overfishing in Brazilian artisanal fishing villages. Fishermen who use fishnets with small mesh sizes were invited to take part in an auction to exchange their fishnet for a fishnet with a bigger mesh size. Interestingly, we observe that the majority of fishermen are willing to exchange their fishnets without further compensation. Importantly, we observe that environmental perceptions and experiences with fishnets help explain the heterogeneity in bids. These findings provide useful information about limitations and possibilities of changing the behavior of individuals who strongly exploit resources.