Perceptions of recreational anglers towards compliance and management issues in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (Project A2.2a)
Task leader: Dr Cheryl Hercus, James Cook University
Task associate:
Mr Vern Veitch Sunfish Queensland
Mr James Innes, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
This study investigates the perceptions, experiences and actions of
recreational anglers towards compliance and management issues in the Great
Barrier Reef Marine Park. Compliance and management issues were operationalised
by focusing on the following topic areas:
- the communication, dissemination and interpretation of information
about fishing regulations
- fishing behaviour and values
- levels of enforcement
As an important user of the GBRMP, recreational anglers’ peceptions
and experiences of these areas can provide valuable insights in a context
of regulatory change. The task objectives therefore are:
- To identify recreational anglers’ sources of information about
fishing regulations
- To examine recreational fishers’ perceptions of the way the
information is presented and communicated to them
- To examine recreational fishers’ perceptions of and attitudes
towards fishing regulations in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
- To examine recreational fishers’ perceptions of and attitudes
towards existing enforcement strategies in the Great Barrier Reef Marine
Park, including their view of effective compliance mechanisms.
- To identify what recreational anglers consider to be important compliance
and management issues
These objectives are examined by utilizing the qualitative methods of
focus groups and personal interviews with eighty five individuals.
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