Behaviour mechanisms of catch rates

Recreational fishing is seeing increasing numbers of fish caught and released, either because individual fishers choose not to harvest for personal or conservation reasons, or because fishing regulations allow few numbers or sizes of fish to be harvested. However, if released fish become less catchable for future fishers, this may lead to decreasing catch rate, and dissatisfied fishers, which runs counter to fisheries goals. We will investigate whether one of a number of mechanisms causing ‘catchability’ of individual fish to decline by tagging a large number of fish in a small ‘learn to fish pond’ and monitor their catches over time. This will help better set regulations with an aim to promote conservation and high catch rates.

Faculty Supervisor:

Brett van Poorten

Student:

Partner:

Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Agriculture

University:

Simon Fraser University

Program: