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

Aquaculture’s Role in Providing Fish for Urban Fisheries Programs

James D. Brader

doi: https://doi.org/10.47886/9781934874042.ch2

Abstract.—Urban fisheries programs utilize specialized fish management strategies, but often vary in scope. Some provide angling opportunities to the general public for recreation, while others may be used as angler recruitment tools. Some may utilize management of the existing fishery, while others may consist primarily of scheduled fish stockings. Depending on the goals set forth in the program and the location of a particular urban fishing site, aquaculture may or may not be able to meet the needs of the program. Selected fish species for stocking urban fisheries locations should not only meet the desires of anglers, but must take into consideration consistent fish availability, size, and reasonable cost. Successful urban fisheries programs that incorporate specifically scheduled put-and-take fish stockings require consistent monetary commitments from the program sponsor or sponsors. The aquaculture industry has made considerable advances in technology over the past three decades, and can provide a number of fish species of appropriate size to almost any geographic location suitable for urban fisheries programs at a competitive cost. The urban fisheries manager must balance the cost of additional fish stockings with the less expensive option of managing and promoting existing urban lake fisheries.