Volunteer Anglers Research Articles

Participation in collaborative fisheries research improves the perceptions of recreational anglers towards marine protected areas

Collaborative fisheries research programs engage stakeholders in data collection efforts, often with the benefit of increasing transparency about the status and management of natural resources. These programs are particularly important in marine systems, where management of recreational and commercial fisheries have historically been contentious. One such program is the California Collaborative Fisheries Research Program (CCFRP), which was designed in 2006 to engage recreational anglers in the scientific process and evaluate the efficacy of California’s network of marine protected areas. CCFRP began on the Central Coast of California and expanded statewide in 2017 to include six partner institutions in three regions: Northern, Central, and Southern California. To date, over 2,000 volunteer anglers have participated in the program, with many anglers volunteering for multiple years. However, the impacts of outreach, education, and collaborative research on those anglers at the statewide scale are currently unknown. Thus, the objective of the current study was to survey the statewide pool of volunteer anglers to assess the degree to which participation in CCFRP has influenced angler perceptions of MPAs, fisheries management, and conservation. We received 259 completed surveys out of a pool of 1,386 active anglers, equating to an 18.7% response rate. Participation in CCFRP resulted in a significant, positive impact on anglers’ attitudes towards MPAs in California across all regions. Anglers who participated in six or more CCFRP fishing trips had a more positive perception of MPAs than those who participated in fewer trips. Volunteer anglers across all regions perceived that they caught larger fishes, a higher abundance of fishes, and a greater diversity of species inside MPAs, consistent with the ecological findings of the program. These results highlight the benefits of involving community members in collaborative scientific research. Collaboration between researchers and the broader community increases transparency and trust between stakeholders, and results in greater understanding of natural resource dynamics, ultimately producing better management outcomes.

Genetic Connectivity of Roundjaw Bonefish Albula glossodonta (Elopomorpha, Albulidae) in the Central Pacific Ocean Resolved through ddRAD-Based Population Genomics

Bonefishes are a nearshore species targeted by non-commercial anglers and subsistence fishers in the Central and South Pacific islands. Among the bonefish species in the Indo-Pacific region, Albula glossodonta are known to have one of the widest geographic ranges, from the Red Sea to the Central Pacific, but it is unknown how dispersive A. glossodonta are between geographically isolated islands. Volunteer anglers collected A. glossodonta fin clips from the main Hawaiian Islands in the North Pacific, Anaa Atoll in the South Pacific, and intermediate Kiritimati Island (Line Islands) to assess the scale of dispersal and population structure within the Pacific Ocean. Population genomics was conducted based on 208 individuals and 7225 SNPs. Although adult A. glossodonta exhibit strong site fidelity, genomic results show no population differentiation between Oahu and Maui in Hawai‘i. Bonefishes exhibit significant population structure between Anaa and Hawai‘i (FST = 0.096), with intermediate Kiritimati comprising admixed fishes. A lengthy larval duration likely promotes connectivity between Pacific islands. Regional management regimes may be most appropriate for a species with this level of dispersal.

Long-term participation in collaborative fisheries research improves angler opinions on marine protected areas.

Recent marine spatial planning efforts, including the management and monitoring of marine protected areas (MPAs), increasingly focus on the importance of stakeholder engagement. For nearly 15 years, the California Collaborative Fisheries Research Program (CCFRP) has partnered volunteer anglers with researchers, the fishing industry, and resource managers to monitor groundfishes in California’s network of MPAs. While the program has succeeded in generating sustained biological observations, we know little about volunteer angler demography or the impact of participation on their perceptions and opinions on fisheries data or MPAs. In this study we surveyed CCFRP volunteers to learn about (a) volunteer angler demographics and attitudes toward groundfish management and stock health, (b) volunteer angler motivations for joining and staying in the program, and (c) whether participation in the program influenced volunteer angler opinions on the quality of fisheries data used in resource management and the establishment of MPAs in California. CCFRP volunteers were older and had higher fishing avidity than average within the California recreational angling community. Many self-identified as more conservation-minded than their peers in the recreational fishing community and had positive views of California groundfish management and stock health. Participation in science and giving back to fisheries resources were major motivating factors in their decision to become and remain CCFRP volunteers. Angler opinions toward MPAs were more positive after volunteering with CCFRP. Those who had volunteered for seven or more years with CCFRP were more likely than not to gain a positive opinion of MPAs. Our survey results provide evidence that long-term engagement of stakeholders in collaborative research positively influences stakeholder opinions regarding marine resource management, and highlights CCFRP’s success in engaging citizen science stakeholders in collaborative fisheries research.

Citizen science data suggest that a novel rig improves landing rate and reduces injury and handling time in recreational angling with artificial lures in Baltic pike (Esox lucius).

The optimal terminal gear in hook-and-line recreational fishing maximizes landing rates and minimizes injury to the fish because some fish will be released after capture. We designed a novel rig configuration in artificial lure fishing for top predators and examined its effectiveness in angling for Baltic northern pike (Esox lucius) using a citizen science approach based on observational data collected from volunteer anglers in the field. The novel rig included two changes to traditional rig designs common to artificial lure angling. First, hooks were mounted in a way giving better hook exposure and eliminating lever-arm effects from the lure to the hooks once a fish is hooked. This construction allowed the second change, being a shift to hooks 4–5 sizes smaller than those used on traditional hook mounts. We analysed observational data collected by volunteer anglers using either the novel rig or a standard rig mount in two types of artificial lures (softbait and hardbait) of the same size (about 17 cm). Using N = 768 pike contacts as input data, we showed the landing rates of pike targeted with artificial lures significantly and substantially increased from 45% with normal-rigs to 85% when the same lure types were fished with the novel rig configuration. Lure type and water temperature had no effects on landing rates. Moreover, hardbaits on normal-rigs produced significantly more injury, bleeding and elevated unhooking time compared to fish captured on hardbaits with release-rigs. We conclude that simple changes to traditional hook sizes and mounts in lure fishing may benefit both anglers and the fishes that are to be released and that citizen science projects with volunteer anglers are able to provide good data in proof-of-concept studies. Further experimental studies are needed to differentiate hook size from hook mount effects because both variables were confounded in the results of the observational data presented here.

Recapture Rates and Size Selectivity of Muskellunge by Anglers Within Two Minnesota Fisheries

AbstractIncreases in catch‐and‐release practices in addition to angler engagement in management activities to evaluate and improve the trophy potential of Muskellunge Esox masquinongy fisheries have become prevalent in recent decades. An expectation of conservative angling practices and regulations is that released fish can be recaptured by anglers at a later time and potentially at a larger size. Although several studies have evaluated Muskellunge recapture rates, no studies have estimated the number of recaptured Muskellunge relative to the number present in the population. Additionally, few studies have evaluated angling size selectivity and the potential benefits or biases of incorporating those data into traditional Muskellunge assessments. This study evaluated the proportion of Muskellunge that were caught and recaptured relative to the population estimates in two Minnesota water bodies and the potential length‐related bias from angler‐caught fish. Data were obtained from traditional sampling gears (i.e., trap netting, boat electrofishing) and angling by volunteer anglers in the Mississippi and Crow Wing rivers and Baby and Man lakes. Participating anglers captured 11–22% of the population, of which 1–3% were subsequently recaptured at both sites annually. Recaptured fish accounted for 5–16% of the annual catch. At the Mississippi River site, proportionally larger fish were angled compared with the modeled population size structure, whereas angler catch from Baby and Man lakes was similar to the modeled size structure, likely due to the differing techniques used by anglers in the two water bodies. A more thorough understanding of recapture rates and size selectivity may be particularly important when managing a low‐density species as angling pressure and angler involvement in management activities increase.

Targeted Catch‐and‐Release of Prohibited Sharks: Sand Tigers in Coastal Delaware Waters

The popularity of recreational shark fishing appears to be on the rise in recent years, with current policies often failing to address the direct targeting of protected species in this sector. Examination of catch trends from the past decade revealed that more than 66 million sharks were caught by recreational anglers along the U.S. eastern coast alone, including more than 1.2 million prohibited species. Using Sand Tigers Carcharias taurus captured by volunteer anglers as a case study to evaluate post‐release mortality, 33 individuals were fitted with external acoustic tags and passively tracked using an array of acoustic receivers. Although rates of internal hooking and gear retention were high (57% and 60%), short‐term post‐release mortality was relatively low (6%) and was heavily influenced by hook location and retention. Given the dramatic increase in the range and extent of recreational fishing targeting prohibited species, even relatively low mortality rates may still pose a significant threat to recovery.

Evaluation of the čibu·d, traditional halibut hook of the Makah Tribe, for reducing catch of non-target species in recreational Pacific halibut fisheries

On the US west coast, the incidental mortality of non-target fish species in the recreational fishery for Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis; hereafter halibut) is a management concern. One potential approach to reducing non-target fish mortality is to use fishing hooks that more effectively target halibut. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of using the čibu·d, a halibut hook traditionally used by the Makah Tribe, for recreational halibut fishing. The Makah Tribe ethnographic record indicates that the čibu·d was selective for moderately sized halibut with little or no catch of other species. We tested the fishing performance of the čibu·d as compared to paired circle hooks (size 8/0) commonly used for recreational fishing using a charter-boat and volunteer anglers. Catch rates of halibut and non-target species, relative (target to non-target) catch ratios, and size selectivity of halibut caught by the two types of hooks were evaluated. Interviews with anglers were also conducted to assess angler opinions on use of the čibu·d. Catch rates of both halibut and non-target species were significantly less for the čibu·d than for circle hooks. Although catch rates were lower for čibu·d, they were 7.4 times more likely to catch a halibut than a non-target species compared to circle hooks. The catch ratio result, along with the positive response of anglers to using the čibu·d, indicate the čibu·d is a feasible hook type alternative for reducing catch of non-target fish species during recreational halibut fisheries particularly in areas where catch of non-target species is a conservation concern.

An overview of the tarpon genetic recapture study in Florida – a citizen science success story

The tarpon Genetic Recapture Study started in an effort to determine how often a tarpon is caught and released in Florida’s growing and lucrative fishery by using DNA fingerprinting techniques as a tool to identify and track individual tarpon. Previous research on central and southwest Gulf of Mexico fisheries showed that most tarpon can survive short-term catch-and-release fishing practices. However, fishing pressure is intense during peak season, and tarpon fishing varies in time and space throughout the state. In this study, a novel method of obtaining fish tissue replaced traditional fin clipping, and citizen-scientists were utilized to collect DNA samples and record capture information from tarpon they caught. Benefits of using citizen scientists included being able to sample fish statewide and collect data on a species that is difficult to catch in great number. From the pilot study in 2005 through the study’s end in 2014, 24,572 samples were received from volunteer anglers throughout the coastal southeastern United States, and of those, 22,992 were collected from tarpon caught in Florida waters. tarpon samples were returned from fish caught along the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts and Florida Keys, but regionally the database was depauperate in samples from north Florida. Public outreach was a critical and integral component of study promotion and angler involvement. Future work based on recapture data will provide information needed to estimate recapture rates, evaluate seasonal and regional movement patterns, determine site fidelity, establish connectivity of tarpon in Florida waters and over the long-term could determine if juvenile tarpon sampled within Florida nursery habitats supply the adult fishery.

Influence of Postcapture Ventilation Assistance on Migration Success of Adult Sockeye Salmon following Capture and Release

AbstractCatch and release is a tactic employed in recreational fisheries to help conserve and sustain fish populations, but postrelease mortality can occur when fish fail to recover from the stress and exhaustion of capture. Depending on factors like the duration of the stressor and whether air exposure occurs, fish can be lethargic or have negative equilibrium upon release; some anglers are motivated to attempt to manually revive fish upon release by assisting with water flow across the gills. Indeed, some management agencies and angling groups recommend different recovery techniques, but very little scientifically defensible evidence exists about the utility of assisted ventilation. We conducted two separate field experiments on Sockeye Salmon Oncorhynchus nerka in the lower Fraser River basin in which fish were (1) exposed to a standardized exercise stressor with air exposure or (2) angled by volunteer anglers and air exposed, with a subset of fish in each experiment then being provided with 1 min of assisted ventilation before release with a radio transmitter. Assisted ventilation took the form of simply holding the fish below the water surface, facing into a flow of ∼0.5 m/s. Postrelease behavior and migration success were examined in both experiments by radio‐tracking fish, using a combination of fixed stations and manual tracking. Our results from both experiments provide no support for the utility of this revival technique in benefiting the migration success of Sockeye Salmon exhausted from a capture‐and‐release event. Future experiments should test the survival and physiological benefits of different revival techniques and durations for fish at different levels of postcapture impairment.

Detecting Noncompliance in the Summer Flounder Recreational Fishery Using a Mark–Recapture Growth Model

AbstractWe used a mark–recapture growth model to investigate recreational angler compliance with minimum length regulations in a popular Chesapeake Bay fishery. Angler noncompliance can severely degrade the ability of fishery managers to avoid overexploitation and to achieve objectives of rebuilding plans. To discern noncompliance in the recreational fishery for Summer Flounder Paralichthys dentatus, we fitted a growth model to 3,474 recapture records from a tagging study conducted by volunteer anglers in Virginia from 2000 to 2011. Most of the tagged fish were small (i.e., sublegal size), and the average time at liberty was 86 d. Based on the growth model, Summer Flounder growth patterns changed at 34.7 cm, possibly representing the length at which the majority of fish reach maturity. The mean size of harvested fish increased in response to increases in the minimum size limit, although harvest of sublegal fish continued. Throughout the 12 years of the study, 33–79% of the tagged fish that were recaptured and harvested were predicted to be sublegal based on the growth model. The percentage of sublegal fish that were harvested increased dramatically when large (≥5 cm) increases in minimum size limits were implemented. We conclude that Virginia recreational anglers responded to management regulations by adjusting the minimum size of harvested fish but that some anglers continued to harvest sublegal fish.Received April 9, 2013; accepted June 18, 2013

Contribution of obligatory and voluntary fisheries statistics to the knowledge of whitefish population in Lake Annecy (France)

Lake Annecy commercial and recreational fishermen are providing daily obligatory fish catch data since 1986. For the last 15 years, 20 volunteer anglers from Lake Annecy are also providing additional data regarding their own fish catch. These data are analyzed statistically to compare information from different sources and to check their accuracy. The results are published in the form of an annual report, which is presented annually at a meeting of fishermen to inform them about trends in Lake Annecy fisheries and to motivate them towards the sustainable management of the lake. From 1992 to 1997, the measured length distributions in the commercial fishery and the estimated length distributions from angler’s catches are filtered by a selectivity curve and are very similar: statistically the two distributions are the same. The CPUE calculated from both obligatory and volunteer angler data are also well correlated. Our results show that the volunteer’s catch can provide important information about population size and structure and are reliable enough to be a cost-effective option for fisheries management.

Mortality Associated with Catch‐and‐Release Angling of Striped Bass in the Hudson River

AbstractCatch‐and‐release fishing commonly occurs in recreational fisheries, including those for the striped bass Morone saxatilis of the Atlantic coast. The contribution of catch‐and‐release practices to overall fishing mortality is often not estimated. We estimated the catch‐and‐release mortality for the Hudson River spawning stock of striped bass in 2001. Volunteer anglers caught striped bass between April 30 and May 16, 2001. Fish were transferred to transport boats in live wells and placed in one of nine 15,000‐L land‐based holding tanks. Control fish were collected by electrofishing and otherwise handled similarly. Treatment and control fish were uniquely tagged and held together for 5 d. Hooking mortality was estimated via conditional rate and additive rates. These two estimation techniques partitioned total observed mortality into hooking mortality and handling mortality, the latter being estimated from control fish. Catch‐and‐release mortality for striped bass averaged 16% for traditional J hooks and 5% for circle hooks over the entire period. Hook location and the occurrence of bleeding were the most influential variables in determining the probability of death. Mortality rate increased when water temperatures reached 16°C. This mortality rate is significant and should be considered when accounting for Hudson River striped bass removals from their spawning population.

Food Habits of Angler-Caught Salmonines in Western Lake Huron

Stomachs were collected from 1,833 trout and salmon caught in western Lake Huron by tournament and volunteer anglers during 1983–1986. Diets of all species collected were dominated by rainbow smelt ( Osmerus mordax; 67% by number) and alewives ( Alosa pseudoharengus; 29%). Although predator and prey lengths had significant positive regressions, the strength of the relationships (r 2 < 0.05) indicated little selection of prey by length. Number of prey per stomach ranged from 0 to 79, but most predators contained less than 5 prey. Alewife abundance in the diet decreased significantly over summer, with a concomitant increase in rainbow smelt consumption. The ratio of alewives to rainbow smelt also varied with year. Diet of salmonines from western Lake Huron was quite different from that in other Great Lakes, particularly in the preponderance of rainbow smelt and in low overall diversity. I suggest that stocking rates and other regulations should consider lake differences in management of trout and salmon populations.

Vital Statistics of a Largemouth Bass Population in Minnesota from Electrofishing and Angler-Supplied Data

Abstract Three methods of determining the structure of a largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides population were evaluated. Angler-supplied data from tournaments and diaries kept by interested anglers were compared to data obtained from spring electrofishing surveys. Data on length-frequency distributions, mortality rates, and population estimates from the three methods were similar. Age-frequency distributions and growth rates derived from the electrofishing and tournament samples also were consistent. From creel surveys, electrofishing activities, tournaments, and examination of diaries, biologists were able to collect data at the rate of 1, 5, 15, and 40 fish per hour, respectively. This study demonstrated that large amounts of reliable data on a largemouth bass population can be obtained economically from volunteer anglers.