Human Dimensions in Fisheries

Abstract

Human dimensions research m fisheries has focused on some areas to the exclusion of others. Most human dimensions research in inland fisheries has been recreational in orientation and has been conducted by researchers in the multidisciplinary leisure research community or by biologists. Papers produced by social scientists working on human dimensions topics are likely to been seen by fisheries managers unless they appear in one of the three AFS journals. And finally, most human dimensions research utilizes mail survey and telephone interview techniques rather than controlled experiments as the mode of scientific observation. Managers will need to support and utilize human dimensions research to understand this diversity in tastes if they are to provide the angling community with the desired product mix. Despite a strong history of human dimensions research in fisheries, most angler surveys are insufficient from a market standpoint because sample size is too small to allow for segmentation of angler groups.