Management Implications of Angler Motivations and Preferences
For Urban Fisheries
Fisheries managers may be better equipped to meet angler expectations if they understand why people fish and more importantly their expectations of the fishing experience. It is important to recognize that the angling population is not comprised of a single, homogeneous group, but rather a heterogeneous group made up of numerous subgroups. Therefore, motivational characteristics of angler subgroups should not be used to generalize behavior of the entire angling population. Experiences anglers seek to derive from fishing can be divided into two elements: activity-specific (unique to fishing) and activity-general (common to all outdoor recreational activities). Managers have the ability to control activity-specific elements, but it has been the perception that agencies are unable to control activity-general elements. This assessment may be the result of the limited training fisheries managers receive in human dimensions or because most managers rank catch-oriented goals as more important than non-catch or activity-general goals. In the context of the urban environment, changing cultural and demographic patterns are likely to shape angler motivations and preferences and as a result, fisheries management must adapt. This manuscript provides a review of angler motivations/preferences and elaborates on why this information is critical for successful urban fisheries management.