Authors: Larry Pape and Rick Eades
In state natural resource agencies, and more specifically state fisheries division, there are a variety of titles given to community based programs that educate the public on fishing, fisheries management and aquatic resource related topics. Additionally, these programs regardless of their title may fulfill one or all of the above mentioned topic categories. As an example, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Fisheries Division houses a section titled Urban Fisheries, as well as supporting an Aquatic Education Program. The UF program's goals are to improve recreational fishing in and around Nebraska cities and to provide more opportunities for urban residents to go fishing. The UFP is working to improve angler access to urban waters and assisting in the enhancement and restoration of urban lakes to provide improved and additional fishing opportunities. (www.ngpc.state.ne.us/fishing/programs/urbanfishing) The Aquatic Education Program is about water. It's about how fish live and what they need to survive. It's about learning to protect the precious water resources found in Nebraska's lakes and rivers. Aquatic education is about fun. It's about learning or teaching fishing skills. It's about enjoying fishing time with family and friends in Nebraska's great outdoors. (www.ngpc.state.ne.us/fishing/ programs/aquaticEd) In practice though, both programs are active in teaching fishing skills, stocking fish, supplying fishing gear, and teaching about natural resources, both independently and in concert with each other in communities statewide. Likewise, throughout the US, state agencies have a variety of titles for programs that address fisheries related topics at the community level. It is the intention of this presentation/paper to create a synopsis of US state fisheries divisions “Urban Fisheries” programs with respect to the given title and it’s relation to program breadth.