Differences in Recreational Fishers’ Motivations for Utilising Two Estuarine Fisheries

James Tweedley; Clara Obregón; Sarah Beukes; Neil Loneragan; Michael Hughes

doi:10.3390/fishes8060292

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Differences in Recreational Fishers’ Motivations for Utilising Two Estuarine Fisheries

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Differences in Recreational Fishers’ Motivations for Utilising Two Estuarine Fisheries

James Tweedley, Clara Obregón, Sarah Beukes, Neil Loneragan and Michael Hughes

Fishes, Vol.8(6), 292

2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes8060292

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Abstract

Acanthopagrus butcheri

Brackishwater environment

Commercial fishing

Crab culture

Crab fisheries

Crustaceans

Decapoda

Estuaries

Estuarine fisheries

Fish

Fisheries

Fisheries management

Fishers

Fishery management

Fishing

Food selection

Marine crustaceans

Recreation

Sharks

Sport fishing

Effective fisheries management requires an understanding of human dimensions. This study elicited the salient motivations for recreational blue swimmer crab and black bream fishing in Western Australia and whether these views differed depending on the fishing location and/or the characteristics of the fisher. Crab fishers were strongly consumption-orientated and aimed to “catch big crabs” and “catch enough crabs to eat”. Furthermore, 91% consumed their catch, with only 2% practicing catch-and-release fishing. In contrast, 81% of black bream fishers did so for the sport/challenge, with the strongest motivation being to catch a bream considerably above legal size and with food only selected by 15% of respondents; most fishers released caught fish. The marked differences between the fisheries for the two species, which co-occur in the same estuaries, are likely driven by the accessible nature of the crab fishery, ease of catching crabs, the low cost of fishing equipment, and their taste. Fishing for black bream, however, requires more expensive equipment, patience, and a greater skill level. Fishers considered crabbing to be as important as other fishing and outdoor activities, whereas bream fishers considered bream fishing considerably more important, reflecting the trophy nature of this fishery.

Details

Title: Differences in Recreational Fishers’ Motivations for Utilising Two Estuarine Fisheries
Authors/Creators: James Tweedley - Murdoch University
Clara Obregón - Murdoch University
Sarah Beukes - Murdoch University
Neil Loneragan - Murdoch University
Michael Hughes - Murdoch University
Publication Details: Fishes, Vol.8(6), 292
Publisher: MDPI AG
Identifiers: 991005588437007891
Murdoch Affiliation: Centre for Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and Sustainability; Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems; School of Environmental and Conservation Sciences
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.2 Marine Biology; 3.2.92 Fisheries Ecology
Web Of Science research areas: Fisheries; Marine & Freshwater Biology
ESI research areas: Plant & Animal Science