The estimate of willingness to pay for recreational fishermen to protect endangered species of Brown trout (Salmo trutta, L. 1758)

The aim of this research was to estimate the willingness to pay (WTP) of recreational fishermen to the conservation of an endangered species ofBrown trout(Salmo trutta, L. 1758), in order to determine the conservation value of Brown trout. In order to do this research, 428 recreational fishermen were selected by simple random sampling method. Data gathering tool was a researcher-made questionnaire comprising items about the recreational fishermen demographic characteristics as well as their willingness to pay for the protection of the endangered species of Brown trout. Eventually, analysis of gathering data was carried out with applying a Logit model under maximum likelihood procedure by using SPSS (version 21) and Eviews (10) Software. The result showed that 79 percent of the recreational fishermen had a positive willingness to pay for the protection of the endangered species of Brown trout. The average payment of WTP for the monthly and annual protection value of Brown trout was estimated 767749.1 RLs and 9212989.25 RLs respectively. According to the results of this research, the variables of the literacy level, income, job, membership in the environmental organization, species recognition and bid have positive effects on the willingness to pay for the protection of endangered species of Brown trout.