‘A human values issue’: Actors, arguments, and regulatory change in the Florida land‐based shark fishery

Abstract

1. Recreational shark fisheries have been the subject of recent public attention because of the possible impacts on shark populations and conflicts between stakeholders. A casestudy is presented based on discussions that took place in summer 2018 about potential changes to policies regulating recreational land-based shark fishing in Florida. Comments from public meetings and workshops (totalling 15.8 hours) and online comments (1,050) submitted to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) were analysed using the lens of actornetwork theory. 3. The case study explores the intersection of conflicting stakeholder interests and types of knowledge, including how stakeholders variously defined the problem of user conflict in a coastal public space, and how they aligned themselves in relation to the problem and to each other. It further illustrates how shifting values and norms can intersect with changing technologies and environmental realities to produce new or increasing conflicts between natural resource user groups.4. This study underlines the importance and potential benefits of regulatory agencies explicitly and transparently engaging with value trade-offs when managing conflicts among users of natural resources.

Public perception of an important urban estuary: Values, attitudes, and policy support in the Biscayne Bay-Miami Social Ecological System

“…My findings, however, highlight the degree to which, in the general public, these identities are not clear cut—with most participating in multiple kinds of activities every year. It is possible that policy forums may produce more identity-based discourse (e.g., speaking as a “diver” or “fishermen”) by attracting or selecting for those with stronger identities or by encouraging identity-salience through participatory structures [e.g., 70 ].…”

Exploring the hidden connections between information channel use and pro-environmental behavior among recreational anglers of the shore-based shark fishery in Florida, United States

“…For instance, the use of signs near fishing access points (e.g., bridges, piers, shorelines, boat launches) has been shown to influence behavior by engaging a sense of social norms (Witzling et al, 2015). Additionally, with evidence of skepticism toward managers and researchers among the SBSF angler community in Florida, engaging anglers in meaningful interactions through interpersonal connections, educational programs focused on conservation, public stakeholder meetings and workshops (Wester et al, 2022), or even collaborative research may soften the divide and increase support. Careful design of such efforts should be taken however, as public trust in government sources remains questionable (May and Burger, 1996;Brewer and Ley, 2013).…”

“…A major component of effective fisheries management is successful communication with anglers, which can inform them of current and new regulations, safe and best handling techniques, and potential opportunities that call for angler engagement and participation (Arlinghaus et al, 2013;Hunt et al, 2013;Wester et al, 2022). Effective communication between anglers, managers, and researchers may foster better relationships and trust which could increase involvement of anglers in fisheries management (Arlinghaus, 2006).…”