Acquiring and Retaining Active Participation within a Constituent-Based Tagging Program

Constituent-based tagging programs (CBTPs) such as The Billfish Foundation (TBF) provide data essential to learning more about the billfish (Istiophoridae) species. We examined TBF’s Tag and Release Database to better understand what causes angler participation to waver. Maintaining consistent data flow is necessary to advise best management practices for these fisheries, which provide significant economic gain to the communities dependent on them. By examining the data generated by TBF constituents, we gain a more comprehensive view of those who tag and release billfish, to anticipate their level of engagement. As TBF continues to grow, supporter numbers will fluctuate, thus it is critical to learn how to best target future participants who will eventually replace early adopters of TBF’s tag and release program. In order to understand why anglers remain active, or what extrinsic factors influence reporting activity, a 12 question survey was distributed to TBF’s U.S.-based anglers. Additionally, we reviewed data from other CBTPs; Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC), and Dolphinfish Research Program (DRP), to determine if similar trends exist across different species and programs. The results and recommendations can be used by other CBTPs, empowering them to stimulate growth rate in the face of an inherently dynamic membership base.