Fishing in Urban New Jersey: Ethnicity Affects Information Sources, Pe ception, and Compliance

Abstract

Recreational and subsistence angling are important aspects of urban culture for much of North America where people are concentrated near the coasts or major rivers. Yet there are fish and shellfish advisories for many estuaries, rivers, and lakes, and these are not always heeded. This paper examines fishing behavior, sources of information, perceptions, and compliance with fishing advisories as a function of ethnicity for people fishing in the Newark Bay Complex of the New York-New Jersey Harbor. We test the null hypothesis that there were no ethnic differences in sources of information, perceptions of the safety of fish consumption, and compliance with advisories. There were ethnic differences in consumption rates, sources of information about fishing, knowledge about the safety of the fish, awareness of fishing advisories or of the correct advisories, and knowledge about risks for increased cancer and to unborn and young children. In general, the knowledge base was much lower for Hispanics, was intermediate for blacks, and was greatest for whites. When presented with a statement about the potential risks from eating fish, there were no differences in their willingness to stop eating fish or to encourage pregnant women to stop. These results indicate a willingness to comply with advisories regardless of ethnicity, but a vast difference in the base knowledge necessary to make informed risk decisions about the safety of fish and shellfish. Although the overall median income level of the population was in the $25,000-34,999 income category, for Hispanics it was on the border between $15,000-24,999 and $25,000-34,999.

Risk communication, the West Nile virus epidemic, and bioterrorism: responding to the communication challenges posed by the intentional or unintentional release of a pathogen in an urban setting

“…3,7,10 Early risk communication research centered on debates about the health or environmental risks associated with waste disposal, toxic chemicals and heavy metals, air and water pollution, nuclear power, electric and magnetic fields, oil spills, food additives, radon in homes, and biotechnology. 2,[11][12][13][14][15][16][17] Little attention was paid to risks caused by exposure to pathogens or to health belief models developed for addressing personal risk-taking behavior (e.g., smoking, alcohol consumption, and drug addiction).…”

Strategic Alignment of Business Processes

“…If there exists a clear framework and clearly defined policies then it follows that any person or stakeholder is able to see the chain of reporting, clear rule definitions, and identify accountable parties. We provide a case study to show disparity in providing information across a population and the importance of transparent communications [25,26].…”

Analysis of potential mercury policies: The impact of stream basin characteristics on susceptible populations

“…Understanding the degree to which these populations are exposed and directing risk communication to those most affected is essential to protecting those most at risk (Burger et al 1999;Shilling et al 2010). This study used populations described in the literature that were not specific to the basins being simulated, although it is assumed that some of the fishers in the modeled basins would have characteristics similar to the literature derived populations.…”

“…In addition to enhanced sensitivity, some populations are more susceptible because exposure is greater. Studies of fish consumption by ethnic and other subgroups have consistently found that certain populations consume substantially greater amounts of fish than the general population (Burger et al 1999;Shilling et al 2010;Lincoln et al 2011). Executive Order 12898 (1994 mandates that federal agencies make environmental justice a part of their mission and address human health and environmental effects on minority and low income populations.…”