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

Opportunities for Urban Fishing: Developing Urban Fishing Programs to Recruit and Retain Urban Anglers

Dane M. Balsman and Daniel E. Shoup

doi: https://doi.org/10.47886/9781934874042.ch4

Abstract.—As the United States has become increasingly urbanized, angling participation has declined. Urban fishing programs provide an opportunity to reverse this trend by effectively targeting new anglers while increasing fishing opportunities for current or recently lapsed urban anglers. There are three essential components in a successful urban fishing program: a resource with clean water and a quality fishery close to current or potential anglers, facilities to accommodate anglers, and advertisement of the fishery to inform and recruit anglers. Early in the development of an urban fishing program, urban anglers’ interests should be assessed and the program should be developed to meet these interests. Next, access to a quality fishery must be developed—either by creating new bodies of water or enhancing existing ones. Depending upon the level of fishing pressure and the species of interest to anglers, supplemental stocking and intensive management may be needed to maintain the fishery. Amenities such as restrooms, picnic areas, docks, and waste receptacles may also be important. Different angling groups may desire different amenities, so providing different sites to cater to these different groups is advisable. Once the facilities and amenities are in place, the resource must be marketed to targeted potential anglers. The marketing strategy should be tailored to each market segment being targeted. Lapsed anglers are the most easily recruited segment and should be a top priority for advertising. Minorities and children are also commonly targeted. As the U.S. population becomes more urbanized, urban fishing opportunities will continue to grow in importance. Without these opportunities, urbanites will likely be drawn toward the numerous other recreational activities that are conveniently available in urban centers, leading to further declines in angling involvement and concern for natural resource conservation and the environment.