Shannon D. Bower

Canadian Recreational Fisheries: 35 Years of Social, Biological, and Economic Dynamics from a National Survey

ABSTRACTFisheries and Oceans Canada has collected a unique, long-term data set on the social, biological, and economic dynamics of Canadas recreational fisheries. Starting in 1975, these data were collected through mail surveys to recreational anglers at 5-year intervals. A longitudinal analysis revealed that there was an average of 4.5 million licensed anglers catching an annual average of 255 million fish. Release rates were relatively high (53% of fish released on average), with recent survey data (2010) suggesting that release rates had exceeded 60%. Recreational anglers also contribute an average of

Stock assessment in inland fisheries: a foundation for sustainable use and conservation

8.8 billion each year to the Canadian economy. However, recreational angling has become less popular over time, and the average age of participants has increased. The data were also useful for characterizing Canadas fisheries, including species-specific catch and harvest. Canada is one of the few countries to collect such extensive recreational fisheries data at a national scale and to do so at regular...

Status of Recreational Fisheries in India: Development, Issues, and Opportunities

Fisheries stock assessments are essential for science-based fisheries management. Inland fisheries pose challenges, but also provide opportunities for biological assessments that differ from those encountered in large marine fisheries for which many of our assessment methods have been developed. These include the number and diversity of fisheries, high levels of ecological and environmental variation, and relative lack of institutional capacity for assessment. In addition, anthropogenic impacts on habitats, widespread presence of non-native species and the frequent use of enhancement and restoration measures such as stocking affect stock dynamics. This paper outlines various stock assessment and data collection approaches that can be adapted to a wide range of different inland fisheries and management challenges. Although this paper identifies challenges in assessment, it focuses on solutions that are practical, scalable and transferrable. A path forward is suggested in which biological assessment generates some of the critical information needed by fisheries managers to make effective decisions that benefit the resource and stakeholders.

Using Transdisciplinary Research Solutions to Support Governance in Inland Fisheries

Recreational fishing is an established activity in developed countries across the world. Many emerging economies have well-established recreational fisheries; however, in countries such as India there has been little discourse on what is needed to support this activitys sustainable development. Here, we review the history of recreational fishing and the current status of recreational fisheries in India. The lack of scientific knowledge on the basic biology of sport fish species, targeting of threatened species, and the absence of region- or species-specific angling regulations for recreational fisheries are identified as some of the challenges associated with this sector in India. Moreover, governance structures are disorganized, with multiple agencies assuming some responsibility for recreational fishing but none tasked explicitly with its sustainable development and management. With improved legislative support and a clear policy framework, developing a responsible and sustainable recreational fisheries industry in India is possible.

The social, economic, and environmental importance of inland fish and fisheries

The diverse nature of internal and external threats and fishery attributes in inland fisheries indicates that the development of long-term solutions to governance issues will require interaction among multiple disciplines and actors. Pollution, habitat alteration, invasive species, and hydropower development are widespread problems that are often external to threats imposed by inland fisheries, but greatly impact fishery productivity. Within inland fisheries, challenges of overfishing, equitable access, conflict, and an overall lack of political will to sustain inland fisheries at the regional, national, and international policy levels serve to pressure the sector further. Power dynamics, governance systems, and regulations play a role in determining the perspectives from which solutions to these issues are viewed, and thereby the perspectives from which they are defined as a success. Promoting transdisciplinary research in inland fisheries can support development of successful governance solutions by providing relevant insights to identify and inform these perspectives. Here, we offer examples of redefined governance problems and potential strategies for addressing them using transdisciplinary research approaches. We conclude by offering suggestions for improving transdisciplinary research in inland fisheries.