Angler Education and Voluntary Changes in Angler Behaviour

Effective implementation of harvest regulations in recreational fisheries requires not only knowledge of fish population dynamics, but also concerted and coordinated efforts to inform stakeholders of regulations and ensure compliance via enforcement and the judiciary.  There exist a number of alternatives to regulations imposed by natural resource agencies such as the use of angler education programs and voluntary changes in angler behaviour.  These “softer” approaches can be developed in close cooperation with stakeholders and in some cases are actually initiated and led by stakeholders.  Examples of such measures include voluntary sanctuaries, seasonal closures and development of entirely live-release fisheries.  Education efforts that provide anglers with knowledge on best practices and empower them to modify their behaviour also have much promise.  This presentation will highlight how angler education and voluntary changes in angler behaviour are increasingly being used as alternatives to traditional mandated harvest regulations.  As natural resource agencies attempt to simplify regulations and engage stakeholders in management resource stewardship, there will become a greater need to understand the biological effectiveness of voluntary management strategies as well as the human dimension aspects of that approach.