Factors Influencing Support for Salmon Recovery Policies in Oregon

2012This study uses multiple regression analysis of a survey of Oregon residents to determine what factors influence an individual’s support for salmon recovery policies in Oregon. Salmon today face a variety of threats, most notably from the ‘four H’s’ (habitat degradation, hydroelectric dams, harvest practices, and hatcheries). Using the social construction theory of public policy, this paper explains how salmon benefit from current recovery policies, and examines how the perceived risk of a threat to salmon recovery effects support for policies to address the threat. Salmon in the Pacific Northwest are positively viewed by society, and as a result of numerous interest groups dedicated to their preservation, enjoy a tremendous amount of political power. The study concludes that how an individual perceives risk has an important, and statistically significant, effect on the level of support for salmon recovery policies. Other important factors include level of education, and ideology