Diversity In Motivations and Behavioral Response to Regulations in the Striped Bass Commercial Fishery

Abstract

It is evident that fishery stakeholder groups are not homogenous, and that inter‐ and intra‐group variation can exist in the form of unique perspectives, motivations for fishery participation, and receptiveness to management measures. However, management agencies often allocate quota and design regulatory plans around distinct groups, such as recreational versus commercial sectors. Our study used the commercial fishery for Striped Bass Morone saxatilis as a case study to explore the motivations and behaviors of commercial fishers in Massachusetts. Results of an online and mail survey suggest that many commercial fishers maintain several motivations for fishing, including both monetary and non‐monetary, like the desire to be outdoors. Intended behavior differences emerged in response to several hypothetical regulatory scenarios, and these disparate behaviors could be partly explained by heterogeneity in fisher motivations and other fishing and non‐fishing attributes. Additionally, we uncovered spillover effects, whereby effort controls could impact other commercial and recreational fisheries. We recommend a relaxation of the assumption that commercial fishers are solely motivated by monetary outcomes, and that holistic approaches to management include information on fisher behavior and motivations.