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Understanding Recreational Fishers' Participation in Public Consultation Programs

This study sought to understand the demographic and commitment variables that predict participation by recreational fishers in public consultation programs, and investigated differences in opinions and beliefs between participants and non-participants. In a survey of recreational fishers in Queensland, Australia, 28% of respondents reported participating in public consultation programs regarding issues affecting recreational fisheries. Participation in consultation programs was positively related to age, avidity, centrality (i.e., importance) of fishing to lifestyle, and membership in fisheries-related organizations. There was no effect of gender, income, or years of fishing experience on participation. Participants and non-participants differed significantly in their level of agreement with 12 of 20 belief statements about fisheries management, issues and threats facing recreational fisheries, and the effects of recreational fishing on fish populations. Participants and non-participants also differed in their level of approval of four of eight fishing regulations. Results suggest that recreational fishers who participate in public consultation programs may not be representative of the wider recreational fisher population.