Authors: Kevin Hunt, Tom Lang, Hal Schramm, Wes Neal, and Cliff Hutt
We conducted an internet-based survey of fisheries administrators of each inland fisheries agency in the United States to determine current programmatic status of urban fisheries programs in five key areas. First, we asked administrators to provide general information about their program, if any, including when the program was initiated statewide, where program administration resided within the agency, whether current emphasis was on urban areas or communities, number of resources managed and their sizes, whether they had developed formalized program goals, and the benefits of programs to their agency and the public. Second, we asked administrators to identify the number and type of agency personnel involved in the program and full-time equivalents associated with program. Additionally, we asked whether any program resources had different regulations than those imposed statewide and law enforcement strategies on program resources. Third, we asked administrators to indicate whether they stocked fish as part of the program, and, if so, species stocked, stocking rates and frequency, whether stocked fish were produced through agency fish hatcheries or an outside source, and advertising strategies for informing the public about stockings. Fourth, we asked administrators to indicate the level of support they receive from anglers, non-anglers, local and state government officials, local and statewide businesses, conservation organizations, and the sport fishing industry. Finally, we asked administrators to indicate whether they have evaluated their program in terms of number of licensed and unlicensed anglers served, whether anglers were introduced to fishing through the program, license sales trends in program areas, program costs and benefits, individuals participating in education and fishing derbies, angler expenditures, and angler characteristics, attitudes, and preferences. Results indicated that most states desiring a statewide urban program already have or have begun implementing one with most activity occurring after the last status survey in 1991. Additionally, many urban programs have evolved from individual projects to statewide programs in numerous states requiring from 2 to 6 FTE for effective management. Most states have evaluated program effectiveness in terms number of anglers and youth served, catch and effort, and cost/benefits, however, few states have conducted more thorough analyses required to justify long-term program existence such as the effectiveness of programs in introducing new anglers, and retaining those and existing anglers in the activity.