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

I FISH NY: Outreach and Education in New York City and on Long Island

Melissa K. Cohen, Nim Lee, Sarah Bruner, Malynda Nichol, and Chart Guthrie

doi: https://doi.org/10.47886/9781934874042.ch26

Abstract.—In 2002, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) implemented the I FISH NY program in Long Island and New York City using funds from the Sport Fish Restoration Program, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The program was created to ensure that anyone who has a desire to fish would have the resources and knowledge necessary to do so, and to increase stewardship by building public awareness and understanding of aquatic resources in metropolitan areas of New York State. DEC subsequently partnered with New York Sea Grant to perform activities including community fishing clinics, school programs, and day-camp programs. Numbers of people reached and quality of programming have increased since program inception, and this is attributed to creation of full-time, long-term staff positions.