The Human Dimensions of Recreational Anglers Targeting Freshwater Species in Coastal Ecosystems, with Implications for Management

Little is known about whether brackish coastal ecosystems attract specific angler types that are characterized by site‐specific preferences and behaviors while targeting freshwater fishes living in a low‐salinity environment. Using the lagoon (“Bodden”) fisheries in northeastern Germany, we compared the human dimensions among anglers fishing in Bodden sites, anglers fishing primarily in freshwater sites, and other, less‐setting‐specialized anglers that use both marine and freshwater fisheries. Data were generated from a 1‐year telephone–mail–diary study involving over 1,000 study participants. The general characteristics, demographics, specialization level, motives, catch orientation, and catch‐and‐release behaviors of the three angler groups were rather similar. However, when targeting specific freshwater fish (i.e., Eurasian Perch Perca fluviatilis, Northern Pike Esox lucius, and Zander [also known as Pikeperch] Sander lucioperca), the motives of anglers choosing the Bodden versus freshwater sites differed. Specifically, Bodden anglers targeting freshwater species in brackish waters were more catch oriented, trophy fish oriented, and challenge seeking compared to freshwater anglers. Bodden anglers were also more likely to fish with friends rather than alone compared to the other angler groups, and they were more likely to use motorboats and to take guides compared to freshwater anglers. Correspondingly, a revealed preference choice model showed that anglers expecting high catch outcomes and social experiences with friends and boat fishing were more likely to select the Bodden waters relative to freshwater sites. Additionally, anglers with a stronger orientation toward the noncatch, experience‐based aspects of fishing were more likely to fish in the Bodden and coastal sites compared to freshwater, suggesting that coastal sites satisfy both catch‐ and non‐catch‐related expectations. We suggest that given their specific preferences and characteristics, Bodden anglers will be particularly sensitive to constraints imposed on using motorboats and to declines in catch rates and trophy sizes in the catch, specifically for Northern Pike.EMFF and State of Mecklenburg‐Vorpommern http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100014510Peer Reviewe

Estimating and mitigating post-release mortality of European eel by combining citizen science with a catch-and-release angling experiment

Several anguillid eel species have experienced severe population declines over the past decades, particularly the European eel (Anguilla anguilla), which is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. To reduce fishing mortality, many European countries have introduced strict recreational eel fishing regulations increasing regulatory catch-and-release (C&R) practice. Despite high release rates, only limited information exists on the potential consequences of C&R on eels. A field experiment was conducted with pre-tagged eels in a semi-natural environment to investigate lethal and sublethal impacts of C&R. The experiment was combined with a citizen science study evaluating the effects of different hooks on catch rates, fish size, and hooking location to develop best practice guidelines. Short-term mortality (≤72 h) ranged from 0.0–18.2%, and adjusted long-term mortality (>72 h) from 0.0–46.2% depending on treatments, resulting in adjusted total mortality rates between 8.4% and 64.4% at the end of the study period (≥43 d). The only significant predictor of mortality was the occurrence of bleeding from hooking injuries. Deep hooking was common, and only few deep-hooked eels for which the fishing line was cut and the hook left in place shed the hook after release. However, no significant effect of C&R on eel condition was found. The citizen science study showed that anglers can significantly decrease the catch of small eels, and thus release rates, by using large J-hooks. Furthermore, large J-hooks or circle hooks reduced the likelihood of deep hooking compared to small J-hooks. Post-release mortality of eels caught in recreational fisheries needs to be considered in future stock assessments and management plans to ensure conservation of the European eel. This study also highlights the strength of combining citizen science with experimental studies to develop best practice guidelines promoting fish conservation.publishedVersio

Estimating and mitigating post-release mortality of European eel by combining citizen science with a catch-and-release angling experiment

Several anguillid eel species have experienced severe population declines over the past decades, particularly the European eel (Anguilla anguilla), which is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. To reduce fishing mortality, many European countries have introduced strict recreational eel fishing regulations increasing regulatory catch-and-release (C & R) practice. Despite high release rates, only limited information exists on the potential consequences of C & R on eels. A field experiment was conducted with pre-tagged eels in a semi-natural environment to investigate lethal and sublethal impacts of C & R. The experiment was combined with a citizen science study evaluating the effects of different hooks on catch rates, fish size, and hooking location to develop best practice guidelines. Short-term mortality (≤72 h) ranged from 0.0–18.2%, and adjusted long-term mortality ( > 72 h) from 0.0–46.2% depending on treatments, resulting in adjusted total mortality rates between 8.4% and 64.4% at the end of the study period (≥43 d). The only significant predictor of mortality was the occurrence of bleeding from hooking injuries. Deep hooking was common, and only few deep-hooked eels for which the fishing line was cut and the hook left in place shed the hook after release. However, no significant effect of C & R on eel condition was found. The citizen science study showed that anglers can significantly decrease the catch of small eels, and thus release rates, by using large J-hooks. Furthermore, large J-hooks or circle hooks reduced the likelihood of deep hooking compared to small J-hooks. Post-release mortality of eels caught in recreational fisheries needs to be considered in future stock assessments and management plans to ensure conservation of the European eel. This study also highlights the strength of combining citizen science with experimental studies to develop best practice guidelines promoting fish conservation

Stepping stones along urban coastlines-improving habitat connectivity for aquatic fauna with constructed floating wetlands

Urban development along coastlines is accompanied by habitat fragmentation and loss of habitat connectivity, particularly affecting the habitat and nursery function of estuarine areas for migratory marine species. Constructed floating wetlands, deployed as ‘stepping stones’ along urban coastlines where natural wetlands are missing, offer the potential to partially replace lost ecosystem services. Originally developed for wastewater treatment, constructed floating wetlands are now used to improve landscape aesthetics or create habitats for aquatic fauna and birds. This study presents a toolkit to identify appropriate sites for stepping stones using open source data and open source software alone. The toolkit was used to identify 85 potential installation sites along the German Baltic Sea coast, a large proportion of which are located in protected areas offering synergies with nature conservation measures. Though the sites are often located in protected areas, the field investigation revealed that natural vegetation is largely absent from the estuaries near urban areas. Constructed floating wetlands can never replace ‘core areas’ in ecological networks, but they can serve as stepping stones improving habitat connectivity, especially for diadromous fish species such as the threatened European eel. To ensure not only structural connectivity, but also functional connectivity, restoration efforts at the land-sea interface must be holistic and include adequate hydrologic connectivity

Unexpectedly high catch-and-release rates in European marine recreational fisheries: implications for science and management

While catch-and-release (C&R) is a well-known practice in several European freshwater recreational fisheries, studies on the magnitude and impact of this practice in European marine recreational fisheries are limited. To provide an overview of the practice and magnitude of C&R among marine recreational anglers in Europe, the existing knowledge of C&R and its potential associated release mortality was collected and summarized. The present study revealed that in several European countries over half of the total recreational catch is released by marine anglers. High release proportions of >60% were found for Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), pollack (Pollachius pollachius), and sea trout (Salmo trutta) in at least one of the studied European countries. In the case of the German recreational Baltic Sea cod fishery, release proportions varied considerably between years, presumably tracking a strong year class of undersized fish. Reasons for release varied between countries and species, and included legal restrictions (e.g. minimum landing sizes and daily bag limits) and voluntary C&R. Considering the magnitude of C&R practice among European marine recreational anglers, post-release mortalities of released fish may need to be accounted for in estimated fishing mortalities. However, as the survival rates of European marine species are mostly unknown, there is a need to conduct post-release survival studies and to identify factors affecting post-release survival. Such studies could also assist in developing species-specific, best-practice guidelines to minimize the impacts of C&R on released marine fish in Europe

[Report from] Joint EIFAAC/ICES/GFCM Workinggroup on eels (WGEEL)

Source at https://www.ices.dk/Science/publications/Pages/Scientific-reports.aspx