Fishing Online: Engaging Anglers through Social Media

Social media has revolutionized how people communicate and acquire information. There now exists an abundance of online networking tools and special interest groups have quickly learned how to tailor and use these tools for their purposes. Most natural resource agencies, professional societies, and NGO’s have a strong social media presence, as do many individual fisheries scientists, to highlight scientific discoveries, promote management decisions, provide research updates, advertise jobs, etc. In addition, the angling community has a large and diverse presence online that is used to ask advice, share tips, fishing experiences, photos, etc. There are several examples of how social media has been used to galvanized support for conservation actions. This talk will explore how social media could be a powerful tool in educating anglers about best handling practices as well as the science that supports these recommendations.