by
W.C. Hooper
Fredericton
New Brunswick
Canada
This report summarizes information and current data on the development of sport fisheries socio-economic data in Atlantic Canada (Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland provinces). It is emphasized that an assessment of needs and preferences of anglers is needed, as well as a variety of management programmes, including a careful discussion of objectives and goals. The need for public information in this field is particularly underlined.
L'auteur récapitule les informations et données actuelles sur le développement de la pêche sportive, et fournit des données socio-économiques sur le Canada de l'Atlantique (Provinces du Québec, du Nouveau-Brunswick, de la Nouvelle-Ecosse, de l'île du Prince Edouard et de Terre-Neuve). Il souligne la nécessité d'évaluer les besoins et les préférences des pêcheurs à la ligne, ainsi que des différents programmes d'aménagement après examen approfondi de leurs buts et objectifs. Il insiste tout particulièrement sur la nécessité d'informer le public dans ce domaine.
This brief report will provide some background information and current results on the development of sport fisheries socio-economic data in Atlantic Canada (Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland provinces) as well as to indicate some important fisheries needs.
An organized effort to gather socio-economic information for Atlantic Canada's recreational fisheries resources resulted only after a “Sport Fisheries Statistics and Valuation Workshop” attended by various federal and provincial fisheries agencies in 1970.
Most aspects of fisheries and management and research have continually been hampered by the:
specialized interests of the many agencies concerned,
the unclear jurisdictional aspects at various levels of government.
Consequently, the development of regional (and especially national) socio-economic information has been contingent upon many factors, the most crucial being:
a media for cooperation and assistance of all agencies through the federal Recreational Fisheries Branch (the central agency),
recognition of individual agency needs, as well as needs of national importance.
Since the 1970 meeting, fisheries agencies have learned:
that socio-economic evaluation is possible and fundamental,
how to collect data,
how to look at data and what they mean,
how to use this data in identification of fisheries management goals and formulation of plans.
3.1 A close liaison with the central agency has been maintained, especially for a consultant advisory service.
3.2 Licence sales and angler participation information for all fisheries agencies has been published regionally and nationally.
3.3 Angler socio-economic surveys have been undertaken in provinces. (Note: Already their results have been useful for environmental impact assessments, justifying budgets and denoting priority areas for management and enforcement).
3.4 Participation in an information-exchange system (established by the central agency) has resulted in providing broader viewpoints as well as keeping abreast with important fisheries developments.
3.5 Important contributions to nationwide data development have been made.
3.6 Periodic but frequent conferences at the regional and national level have served to identify local, regional and national data needs as well as suggest how these needs can best be satisfied.
3.7 Some important statistical information for Atlantic Canada is presented:
About one million persons angled 10 300 000 days in 1973/74; 4.5 percent fished tidal or sea waters;
Angling effort may be increasing by at least 7 percent per annum;
Anglers have responded very well (60–80 percent return of information to survey questionnaires;
Two groups of anglers stand out:
Atlantic salmon-anglers (residents) spend two times more than other species anglers; non-resident salmon-anglers spend four times more than resident salmon-anglers. Only 65 000 salmon-anglers spend at least Can.$ 10 000 000 annually. (Note: Since market pricing systems are available in New Brunswick, the Atlantic salmon resource has been valued at Can.$ 110 000 000.);
Prince Edward Island children under 16 years of age were sampled through a regionalized school system. Their angling effort was one third of the provinces total angling effort when compared with licensed resident anglers. The survey is most important in that it evaluated a previously exempt group of anglers and shows children are a very significant group of anglers (which should not be ignored in sport fishing analysis). Such a survey may also be basic to our examining and understanding adult motivation.
4.1 Clarification of jurisdictional responsibilities and identification of sport and commercial fisheries goals.
4.2 Careful evaluation and use of available water-promotion of angling opportunity that is naturally available.
4.3 Assessment of needs and preferences of anglers; recognition that a variety of management programmes are needed.
4.4 Careful development of programme objectives and goals. Management programmes should reflect peoples needs and wants to be successful in competing for funding (P.P.B.).
4.5 Public information is needed; resource administrators, biologists and the public (politicians) must have a sound understanding of economic and social factors that influence fisheries development and utilization.
4.6 Recognition by resource administrators and fisheries biologists that maximizing net benefits for salmonids (especially Atlantic salmon) is not the only solution to satisfy demands and needs of anglers.
