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Social assessment of recreational fishing in the Great Barrier Reef region (A1.2.3a)Task leader: Dr Stephen Sutton, James Cook University.
Task associates:
Recreational fishing is a way of life for more than 800,000 Queenslanders, whether they fish to catch a feed, test their angling skills, enjoy the outdoors, or just to relax. The economic benefits of recreational fishing are well-studied, but until now, very little information has been collected on what motivates people to go fishing. In February 2004, CRC Reef researcher Dr Stephen Sutton from James Cook University asked anglers across Queensland about the social benefits of recreational fishing. Previous surveys of recreational fishers have concentrated on what species have been caught, the types of people who go fishing, and where and how often they fish. This survey will investigate the social and family benefits of fishing, and anglers’ attitudes toward conservation, catch-and-release, fish consumption, and fisheries and Marine Park management.
This information will give anglers a voice in how they feel recreational fisheries should be managed. The questionnaires are being designed in collaboration with Sunfish Queensland, Queensland Fisheries Service, and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. The research will assist managers to predict how the recreational fishing community might be affected by future management decisions, and provide information on how proposed management changes can better serve recreational fishers. The team contacted around 10,000 Queensland households as part of a random telephone survey. Of those called, 2,400 recreational fishers agreed to take part in a more detailed postal survey. This is the first time that a postal survey of recreational fishers has been carried out in Queensland. For more information call Dr Stephen Sutton, CRC Reef Research Centre and James Cook University, on (07) 4781 5510, email: stephen.sutton@jcu.edu.au |
