Swallowing the bait: is recreational fishing in Australia ecologically sustainable?

McPhee, Daryl Peter; Leadbitter, Duncan; Skilleter, G. A.

doi:10.1071/pc020040

Cited by 245 publications

(203 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…Recreational fishing may have similar impacts on fish stocks (Coll et al 2004) and ecosystems 55 (Lewin et al 2006) as commercial fishing and, in certain areas, can form a greater proportion of the total catch than the commercial harvest (Kearney et al 1996, McPhee et al 2002. Recreational fishing can play an important role in the social dynamics of communities (Finn and Loomis 2001, Henry and Lyle 2003, Morales-Nin et al 2005 and is a popular activity worldwide, for the provision of food (Burger 60 2002) and as a leisure activity (Henry and Lyle 2003).…”

Section: Introduction 50mentioning

confidence: 99%

Qualitative analysis of recreational fisher response and the ecosystem impacts of management strategies in a data-limited situation

2010

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Section: Introduction 50mentioning

confidence: 99%

Qualitative analysis of recreational fisher response and the ecosystem impacts of management strategies in a data-limited situation

2010

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“…Empirical evidence from studies designed to examine pain and fear in fish has also produced significant evidence for the ability of fish to experience these two forms of suffering (Sneddon et al, 2003a,b;Sneddon, 2003aSneddon, ,b, 2004Portavella et al, 2002;Yue et al, 2004). Rather than a comprehensive review of all fish welfare issues, this review focuses on the impacts of catch-and-release recreational fishing, which is economically important and possibly plays a significant role in conservation (McPhee et al, 2002). We discuss the evidence for pain in fish and discuss what the consequences of catch and release are upon the welfare of released fish.…”

Section: Welfare Issues In Fishmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fish are subjected to a number of procedures in commercial (e.g., Chopin and Arimoto, 1995) and recreational fisheries (e.g., Cooke et al, 2002a;McPhee et al, 2002), aquaculture (e.g., Chandroo et al, 2004a,b;Conte, 2004), and scientific experimentation (e.g., DeTolla et al, 1995) which are invasive and may cause tissue damage that would give rise to pain in humans. Perhaps the most work to date on considering the welfare status of fish has been in the context of aquaculture (e.g., Chandroo et al, 2004a,b).…”

Section: Welfare Issues In Fishmentioning

confidence: 99%

Animal welfare perspectives on recreational angling

Cooke

Sneddon

2007

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

131

127

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Fish captured by recreational anglers are often released either voluntarily or because of harvest regulations in a process called ''catch-and-release''. Catch-and-release angling is thought to be beneficial for the conservation of fish stocks based on the premise that most of the fish that are released survive. However, expanding interest in animal welfare has promoted debate regarding the ethics of catch-and-release angling. There is a growing recognition that fish can consciously experience nociception and that they have some capacity to experience pain and fear. Indeed, empirical anatomical, physiological, and behavioural evidence supports the notion that fish could experience these two forms of suffering (i.e., pain and fear). Based on that premise, we examine existing catch-and-release research from a welfare perspective to determine the extent to which potential pain and suffering could be caused. There are numerous studies that provide analyses of the consequences of catch-and-release on the individual demonstrating physical injury, sublethal alterations in behaviour, physiology, or fitness, and mortality. Collectively, this research suggests that all recreational fishing results in some level of injury and stress to an individual fish. However, the severity of injury, magnitude of stress, and potential for mortality varies extensively in response to a variety of factors. Interestingly, this information can be used to identify strategies that anglers may adopt that minimize these effects through changes in either gear (e.g., type of hook, bait, or net) or angling practices (e.g., duration of fight and air exposure, fishing during extreme environmental conditions, fishing during the reproductive period). Although aspects of the catch-and-release angling experience cannot be refined (e.g., the need to physically hook the fish), we argue that informed anglers and fisheries managers can adopt practices to improve the welfare of angled fish. Although consideration of fish welfare is somewhat abstract to most anglers and fisheries managers, ultimately it benefits the individual fish, while simultaneously benefiting the fish population and fishery. Greater integration of welfare consideration into recreational and commercial fisheries should promote innovative solutions to minimize pain and suffering, which should also enhance conservation and management. #

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“…In these areas, the volume of the recreational catch often exceeds the commercial catch, or is the only fishing activity that occurs [3]. By nature, recreational fisheries are open access-an as of right activity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urban Recreational Fisheries in the Australian Coastal Zone: The Sustainability Challenge

McPhee

2017

Sustainability

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Abstract:Recreational fishing is an important wildlife harvesting activity in urban coastal areas, and recreational harvest in these areas can frequently exceed the commercial harvest. Recreational fishing is a key way that many members of the public experience the environment. The activity enhances social capital, promotes respect for nature, provides health benefits and can provide economic benefits to coastal communities. It is also an important driver of the science on aquatic animals and habitats, and an important tangible reason for many members of the public to conserve and protect aquatic resources. Overall, there has been little specific consideration of urban recreational fisheries management in Australia, despite the paramount importance of urban areas as a focus of recreational fishing activity. This paper identifies that in order to maximize individual and societal benefits from recreational fishing, there needs to be a refocussing of management with the aim of being more holistic. Historically, fisheries management in Australia has focused on maximum sustainable yield (MSY) or maximum economic yield (MEY) which is relevant for the commercial fishing sector, but neither of these is directly relevant to recreational fisheries. This paper identifies that Urban Fisheries Management Plans are required that recognize the specific issues associated with urban recreational fisheries. These plans need to coordinate within and between levels of government and have clear management objectives relevant to urban recreational fisheries. Enhanced opportunities for meaningful citizen science can be incorporated at multiple levels within these plans and this can engender public support for environmental stewardship, as well as fill a very important gap in the knowledge base necessary for managing the activity. As urban recreational fisheries are often occurring in highly modified or degraded habitats, a central element of these plans needs to be habitat restoration and this can have broader benefits for aquatic health. Other management tools include habitat creation (e.g., artificial reefs), optimization of coastal infrastructure as fisheries habitat, and stock enhancement. Overall, Urban Fisheries Management Plans represent a necessary evolution of fisheries management to better address the specific challenges of urban recreational fisheries management, and to best ensure that benefits are optimised.

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Swallowing the bait: is recreational fishing in Australia ecologically sustainable?

Cited by 245 publications

References 60 publications

Qualitative analysis of recreational fisher response and the ecosystem impacts of management strategies in a data-limited situation

Qualitative analysis of recreational fisher response and the ecosystem impacts of management strategies in a data-limited situation

Animal welfare perspectives on recreational angling

Urban Recreational Fisheries in the Australian Coastal Zone: The Sustainability Challenge

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