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

Implications of Angler Motivations and Preferences for Urban Fisheries Management

Clifford P. Hutt and John R. Jackson

doi: https://doi.org/10.47886/9781934874042.ch7

Abstract.—Fisheries managers may be better equipped to meet angler satisfaction if they understand why people fish and, more importantly, their expectations of the fishing experience. It is important to recognize that the angling population is not comprised of a single, homogeneous group, but is rather a heterogeneous group made up of numerous subgroups. Motivational characteristics of angler subgroups should not be used to generalize to the entire angling population. Experiences that anglers seek from fishing can be divided into those that are activity-specific (unique to fishing) and activity-general (common to all outdoor recreational activities). Fisheries managers have emphasized activity-specific over activity-general elements. A perception that agencies have limited control over activity-general elements may result from limited training in human dimensions, or because most managers feel catch-oriented elements are more important than noncatch, activity-general elements. In urban areas, fisheries managers are adapting to changing cultural and demographic patterns, which shape angler motivations and preferences.