Multi-Stakeholder Participation in the Development of Best Practices for Catch-and-Release: A Case Study on Golden Dorado, Argentina

Recreational fisheries are developing in remote and striking regions around the world. Through a two-fold benefit, these fisheries often foster local economic growth and bring attention to regional environmental issues that threaten the aquatic ecosystems that support them. In many cases, catch-and-release is advocated, yet the role of this conservation tool for target species often goes unevaluated because of a lack of local capacity, funding, and simple naiveté about the potential impacts of the angling event on fish. We present a case study for an emerging Golden Dorado (Salminus brasiliensis) recreational fishery in northern Argentina. During the process we developed partnerships, fundraised, and executed a rapid assessment focused on the impacts of catch-and-release on Golden Dorado inhabiting a large, regulated river. The rapid assessment included quantifying the physical injuries, physiological disturbances, and short-term movements and mortality of fish following capture and release by ‘research anglers.’  We also held two workshops and conducted stakeholder surveys to better understand the environmental, social, and political challenges that could influence the maintenance of the recreational fishery. Lessons learned from our approach will be shared including the potential local guide involvement holds for building stewardship in specialized fisheries.