Exploring the efficacy of an aquatic invasive species prevention campaign among water recreationists

Abstract

Water recreationists regularly engage in behavior that can contribute to the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS), which can result in costly consequences for managers. As AIS prevention is more cost-effective than response, educational campaigns are implemented as a preventative management strategy. However, little is known about the efficacy of education campaigns in promoting recreationists' knowledge, personal responsibility, and engagement in behaviors that can prevent AIS spread. This study explored the Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers! TM (SAH!) campaign by conducting survey and focus group research with water recreationists' in Illinois and Indiana. Results from the survey research indicate moderate campaign success (55 % were aware of the SAH! campaign), and that awareness is significantly related to increases in knowledge, personal responsibility, and engagement in four of the six recommended control behaviors. Additionally, findings demonstrate that boater-anglers were most aware of the campaign (69 %), most knowledgeable of AIS species, and felt the most personal responsibility for AIS control. However, focus group results demonstrate the need for campaign enhancement, including streamlining campaign messaging and increasing campaign exposure. Policy informed by our recommendations may improve the efficacy of educational campaigns to manage recreation behavior and corresponding environmental impacts among multiple water recreationist groups.

In lakes but not in minds: stakeholder knowledge of invasive species in prairie lakes

“…Surprisingly, substantial knowledge gaps were identified concerning the presence and prevention of non-native mussel transmission. In our study, awareness of eutrophication was found to be a simple but near-universal predictor of respondent's knowledge concerning AIS, while previous studies identified breadth and depth of recreational involvement as near-universal predictors (Eiswerth et al 2011;Seekamp et al 2016). Therefore, our study provides further evidence for the overall importance of lake-based activities and lake-related knowledge as determinants of AIS knowledge.…”

“…Inconsistent nature of the answers to the open-ended questions provides evidence that current outreach efforts are either not delivering the message in a clear, understandable manner or that it is not being retained. The message of 'clean, drain, dry' is a central tenant of invasive mussel prevention and control campaigns around the world (Gates 2009;Seekamp et al 2016;Zook and Phillips 2012), and needs to be delivered successfully to recreationists utilizing watercrafts to prevent mussel invasion. Even when water-craft users are willing to drain their boats, they are unlikely to use a hot water rinse as recommended (Connelly et al 2016;Seekamp et al 2016).…”

“…Overall, surveys suggest that fishers are more knowledgeable about AIS and outreach campaigns than other recreationists (water skiers, swimmers, etc. ), but their participation in AIS prevention behaviors is inconsistent or low and depends on fishing experience (Edwards et al 2016;Eiswerth et al 2011;Gates et al 2009;Lindgren 2006;Seekamp et al 2016).…”

“…Some studies have found that even educated fishers are likely (25-33%) to release live bait into water bodies (Lindgren 2006;Drake et al 2014). Similarly, well-informed fishers and boaters often did not properly rinse used equipment (Connelly et al 2016;Seekamp et al 2016). Disposition for risky behavior may be attributed to stakeholders tendency to underestimate the ecological costs of individual actions (Drake et al 2014).…”

The randomised response technique: A valuable approach to monitor pathways of aquatic biological invasions

“…To obtain an effective reduction of the risk in the short term, current research indicates that proper bait disposal by anglers is crucial to avoid biological invasions of freshwater and estuarine ecosystems (Kilian et al., ). Because many anglers do not regard improper bait disposal as an undesirable behaviour, information campaigns about aquatic invasions should be a first step towards improving disposal behaviour (Seekamp et al., ; Sharp, Cleckner & DePillo, ; Shaw, Howell & Genskow, ), provided that increased awareness will be coupled with an increased availability of waste bins around water bodies and fishing ponds.…”