North American Perspectives on Recreational Fishing
 
 

Dear Sir/Madam:

Thank you for your interest in our pilot survey on understanding how recreational fisheries stakeholders view issues associated with recreational fishing. We have now received over 300 responses and reached our desired target size. As such, we have deactivated the survey.

As you can imagine, there are many challenges associated with implementing a human dimensions study on a continental or global scale, particularly in the absence of a funding body that would support recreational fishing research on that scale. This pilot study was intended to obtain some preliminary information on how we could engage anglers and researchers/managers using an online survey tool. The comments provided by participants at the end of the survey (as well as on stakeholder discussion boards that we are monitoring) will help us to understand the biases, limitations, and opportunities for conducting large-scale surveys using on line survey tools. Comments will also help us to understand how we can better ask general questions across a wide range of stakeholders, each with a very specialized interest and expertise. Many respondents indicated that the provision of qualifiers would have been useful and that some questions were applicable to one species/fishery but not to another. Furthermore, we intentionally asked questions on topics that are "divisive" (e.g., fish pain, how to deal with anti-fishing activities) within the recreational fisheries community to evaluate responses to these very topical and emotional issues. Your responses have been extremely informative.

We also want to respond to a query from many of the participants - namely, "who is funding the work and does that link to a specific agenda on behalf of the research team". The answer is that there is no funding support and the data are being collected by students as part of a course that is attempting to understand how the diversity of opinions regarding recreational fisheries management and research and our desire to ensure that the recreational fishing sector is vibrant and sustainable. The primary purpose is educational and we can assure you that we have already learned much about the range and intensity of opinions associated with the recreational fishing sector.

Please visit this site in May 2008 for a brief summary of the findings. Until then, happy fishing and tight lines.

Please send any feedback to: global.rec.fishing@gmail.com

 
     
     
     
     

 

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