Urban and Community Fisheries Programs: Development, Management, and Evaluation

Luring, Schooling, and Serving Up City Fishing

George Babey and Tim Barry

doi: https://doi.org/10.47886/9781934874042.ch17

Abstract.—Connecticut’s urban anglers might catch fish of six different fresh and saltwater families in a single day, within sight of a city skyline. Agency professionals and volunteers have united over the last several years to seize this opportunity to provide City Fishing. Aquatic educators have helped over 35,000 students learn about water, fish and fishing. Agency leaders created a No Child Left Inside initiative and selected four urban waters suitable for management. Fisheries biologists developed plans for those urban sites (including catfish stocking for the first time in our history) and created 11 Trout Parks to encourage family fishing. Agency communication professionals helped promote events with radio, newspaper and television outreach, hatchery trucks, stocking by the public, and having municipal leaders in attendance. Special recruitment and training produced an excited team of volunteer supporters. Hundred of families, with adults purchasing fishing licenses to participate, attended Family Fishing Day events. All activities included a continual focus on internal and external partnerships. Attractive fish stocking schedules at three ponds also helped entice 12 school, municipal, NGO and youth groups to join as stakeholders. Urban angling continues to grow, with urban fisheries, Trout Parks and City Fishing classes expanding into six additional city parks.