Creel Surveys for Social-Ecological-Systems Focused Fisheries Management

Using ecological evidence to refine approaches to deploying offshore artificial reefs for recreational fisheries

“…We encourage programs to focus on developing goals that consider both catch and non-catch motivations given both are important to recreational fishers (Hunt et al 2013, Arlinghaus et al, 2017, Wahyudin et al 2018, Nieman et al, 2020 and that have appropriate means for measuring success, selecting target species, and determining optimal strategies (in this case designs and arrangements). Additionally, we encourage an increased focus on the critical element of siting and determining optimal deployment locations, which can be aided by qualitative tools (such as MCA).…”

The U.S. Inland Creel and Angler Survey Catalog (CreelCat): Development, Applications, and Opportunities

“…Recreational fisheries, where angler effort is primarily leisure‐driven, are socially and economically important. In these complex social–ecological systems, management must balance the maintenance of ecological integrity with provision of high‐quality fishing opportunities by understanding the interdependencies of the status of fish populations, their habitats, angler motivation and behaviors, and the economies dependent upon them (Ward et al 2016; Arlinghaus et al 2017; Camp et al 2020; Nieman et al 2021). Globally, more than 1 billion people participate in recreational fishing on an annual basis and the sector generates economic activity valued at US$190 billion and employs more than 60 million people (World Bank 2012).…”

“…For example, efforts to maintain or enhance recreational fisheries often entail changing regulations or management strategies (e.g., stocking, habitat rehabilitation, community manipulation) over time (Arlinghaus et al 2016). Having access to creel and angler surveys available across multiple states could aid managers in drawing comparisons, extrapolating trends, and identifying regional patterns and processes (e.g., effort, catch, harvest; Nieman et al 2021). The ability to leverage data from nearby states may aid managers in assessing the potential efficacy of methods applied to their own waters.…”

“…CreelCat comprises survey data from individual waterbodies that can then be analyzed, compared, or summarized across state, regional, and national levels, allowing multi‐state and regional comparisons. This database aims to support fisheries research and management by highlighting fisheries trends at multiple spatial and temporal scales, addressing critical gaps in our understanding of inland recreational fisheries as complex social–ecological systems (Arlinghaus et al 2017; Nieman et al 2021) to help prepare stakeholders for the future impacts of climate change (Pinsky and Fogarty 2012). More broadly, CreelCat can serve as a model to encourage other countries to develop comprehensive tracking of recreational fishing to bolster international reporting to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and other relevant entities.…”

“…The social side of inland recreational fisheries management is often the most poorly understood (Arlinghaus et al 2002; Villamagna et al 2014) and represents a source of considerable uncertainty for management outcomes (Fulton et al 2010). CreelCat can facilitate improved valuation of economic and cultural benefits of inland recreational fisheries through analysis of broad‐scale spatiotemporal trends in key metrics such as catch composition, harvest, angler demographics, and angler motivations, as well as identification of critical data gaps (Nieman et al 2021). Such large‐scale, cross‐jurisdictional efforts have been vital in crafting strategic fisheries management plans for fish populations in dynamic systems such as the Laurentian Great Lakes (e.g., Guthrie et al 2019).…”