Recreational fishing in a time of rapid ocean change

van Putten, Elizabeth I. and Jennings, Sarah and Hobday, A.J. and Bustamante, Rodrigo H. and Dutra, Leo and Frusher, Stewart and Fulton, Elizabeth A. and Haward, Marcus and Plagány, E. Éva and Thomas, Linda and Pecl, Gretta T. (2017) Recreational fishing in a time of rapid ocean change. Marine Policy, 76 . pp. 169-177. ISSN 0308-597X

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Abstract

Fishing is an important recreational activity for many Australians, with one in every four people participating
every year. There are however many different pressures exerted on Australian fish stocks, including climaterelated
changes that drive changes in local fish abundances. It is inevitable that recreational fishers will need to
adapt to these changes. When resource abundance alters substantially, user adaptation to the new situation is
required and policies and incentives may need to be developed to encourage behaviour change. It is important to
correctly anticipate fisher's response to these policies and incentives as much as possible. Improved
understanding of recreational fisher's likely adaptation decisions and the nature and timing of these decisions
can help avoid unintended consequences of management decisions. Based on a survey of recreational fishers in
the south-east Australian climate hotspot, we identify 4 relevant dimensions to recreational fisher's behavioural
adaptation. There are differences in adaptation timing (early, late, and non-adaptors). Non-adaptors are
characterised by greater cultural attachment to fishing and stronger perceptions of the factors that influence
abundance change. The fisher's preferred adaptation responses and the timing of the behavioural response
differs between decreasing versus increasing fish abundance. Insight into perspectives and expectations on how
recreational fishers might adapt to changes is useful to develop a set of behavioural incentives that appeal to
different groups but remain efficient and effective in their implementation. Such knowledge can create new
pathways to achieve meaningful and targeted adaptation responses for different types of recreational fishers.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GC Oceanography G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences S Agriculture > SH Aquaculture. Fisheries. Angling
Divisions:	Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment (FSTE) > School of Marine Studies
Depositing User:	Fulori Nainoca - Waqairagata
Date Deposited:	13 Dec 2016 00:59
Last Modified:	28 Sep 2017 03:38
URI:	https://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/9530

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