A while back I tried a back-of-the-envelope benefit-cost analysis of closing "The Point" at Cape Hatteras to 4-wheel drive fishing so that a few endangered piping plover chicks might get the opportunity to learn to fly and, someday, soar as if on eagle's wings.
The beach was closed from June 25 to August 9 and I estimated the cost at $300,000. Well, I'm enjoying my NC shore fishing model so here is another opportunity to give it a go.
According to my model, closing The Point results in a cost per angler trip of $0.36. 4.78% of all NC shore fishing occurr at The Point and there are about 20,000 daily shore trips during June, July and August. Closing the beach for plovers affects about 45 days and 783,803 total trips. Valuing each trip at $0.36/trip results in a total cost of $282,169.
Hey! that's pretty close to my back of the envelope estimate of $300,000!
