Differences in Satisfaction and Constraints of Anglers Across an Urban-Rural Gradient in a Metropolitan Area (Berlin, Germany), With Implications for Urban Fisheries Management

Authors: Robert Arlinghaus, Erik Fladung, and Ingo Borkmann

To better predict which management measures might facilitate fishing activity inside the German capital of Berlin, an understanding of satisfaction components and fishing constraints experienced is needed. In this paper, we contrast satisfaction and constraints of anglers living in Berlin (urban anglers) with those living in the more rural areas surrounding Berlin (rural anglers) based on a mail survey of N=2134 anglers drawn randomly from a fishing licence frame. Both angler segments expressed lowest satisfaction with catch aspects of the fishing experience such as the amount of consumable and trophy fish captured and with the services received while fishing (boat rentals etc.). The most important constraints mentioned were lack of time and health problems, lack of fish bites and lack of catches of the preferred species. Restrictions on night fishing constraint urban anglers to a significantly greater extent than rural anglers. To promote the fishing experience of urban residents inside Berlin enhancement of catch opportunities is needed along with relaxing the current ban on night fishing. However, factors outside the traditional realm of fisheries management such as lack of time and family commitments might constitute the ultimate barrier for retaining or enhancing urban fishing opportunities.