When push comes to shove in recreational fishing compliance, think ‘nudge’

Abstract

Enforcing compliance with rules and regulations in recreational fisheries has proved difficult due to factors such as the high number of participants and costs of enforcement, the absence of regular monitoring of recreational fishing activity, and the inherent difficulties in accurately determining catch levels. The effectiveness of traditional punitive deterrence is limited, yet current management is heavily reliant on this compliance approach. In this paper, the potential of behavioural based management is considered through a narrative review of the relevant literature; specifically, exploring the use of nudges, which aim through subtle changes and indirect suggestion to make certain decisions more salient, thereby improving voluntary compliance. This concept is explored with specific reference to the compliance of fishers within Australian recreational fisheries. There are only a few examples of behavioural based approaches found. However, based on their theoretical foundations, nudges may represent an inexpensive, and potentially highly effective tool for recreational fisheries management. Nudges do not offer a 'quick fix' to cases where traditional policy instruments have failed. Rather, there is the potential for behavioural nudges (based on framing, changing the physical environment, presenting default options, and social norms) to augment and complement existing deterrence regimes. A number of potential nudges for compliance management in recreational fisheries are suggested, but caution is advised. As with any novel management approach, nudges must be rigorously tested to demonstrate their cost-effectiveness and to avoid unintended consequences.

The future of recreational fisheries: Advances in science, monitoring, management, and practice

“…Furthermore, in many cases, fishing regulations are already highly complex, often involving species and location-specific guidelines that result in large, complex documents with which anglers must familiarize themselves to participate legally. Meanwhile, complex regulations have been identified as a barrier for RF participation (Arlinghaus et al, 2008;Cooke et al, 2013;Lester et al, 2003), and non-compliance can be widespread, presenting a considerable threat to fisheries sustainability (Mackay et al, 2018).…”

“…Considering the issues with regulatory complexity, in some cases voluntary institutions may be a better approach for aligning angler behaviors and practices with conservation goals (Cooke et al, 2013;Mackay et al, 2018). Yet, translating knowledge to practice, such as having anglers learn and apply these angling practices, can be challenging.…”

How behavioral science can help conservation

“…This minimum size often becomes the anchor for fishers , but it is easy to slip just below this anchor and keep fish that are too small. To reduce the likelihood of recreational fishers keeping fish that are too small, management authorities have used persuasive messaging that encourages people to aim for larger fish to reset people's conceptual anchor well above the minimum size (8).…”

“…Although these cognitive biases have already been leveraged in conservation activities spanning fisheries, energy use, waste production, and land use (5,8), further opportunities exist to integrate people's cognitive biases directly into operational tools used for conservation planning. For example, there is a cognitive bias that causes people to perceive that losses hurt about twice as much as gains feel good, often referred to as loss aversion or prospect theory (6).…”

“…Some power companies have leveraged this knowledge by making customers' power usage public, resulting in substantial reductions in electricity consumption (3). Likewise, prosocial behavior such as compliance with conservation rules can be encouraged when stylized images of watching eyes are visible (i.e., on signs or posters), which make people feel as if they are being watched (8,14). However, it is unclear how long the effects of these types of behavior change intervention last, and it remains to be shown whether people eventually get desensitized.…”