Untangling The Line: Barriers to Fishing Participation in Communities of Color

Authors: Sue Schroeder and David Fulton

In urban environments, participation in angling and other outdoor recreational activities has been declining. A range of factors including aging, immigration, and busy urban lifestyles, may contribute to decreased angling participation in these urban centers. During the last 30 years the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area has had growing African American, Asian, Hispanic, and other communities of color. We describe results of focus groups conducted with members of the African-American, Chicano-Latino, Native American, and Southeast Asian communities in the Twin Cities. Results suggest that individuals from these communities perceive that fishing provides benefits similar to those reported in research with White respondents. However, individuals from these communities of color face unique constraints to their participation. Several groups identified safety concerns related to lack of swimming ability as a constraint to participation. Selective law enforcement and language barriers were identified as constraints among new immigrant groups. Lack of knowledge and equipment, pollution concerns, access issues, and expense were also reported as barriers in some communities. Focus group participants provided valuable suggestions for improving communication and promoting angling participation within their communities.