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Presented to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheri es and Wildlife
March 1, 2016
Mark Damian Duda, Responsive Management
Presented to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheri es and Wildlife
March 1, 2016
Mark Damian Duda, Responsive Management
Maine Anglers’ Participation in and Opinions on Freshwater Fishing
Maine Anglers’ Participation in and Opinions on Freshwater Fishing
1
2
Focus of Fish and Wildlife Management
Fish and Wildlife Professionals
Fish and Wildlife Habitats Human Populations
Fish and Wildlife Populations
3
4
Reach of Responsive Management� 1,000 human dimensions projects� Almost $60 million in research� 50 states – 15 countries� Every state fish and wildlife agency and most federal
resource agencies; most DNRs and NGOs� Industry leaders such as Yamaha, Winchester,
Vista Outdoor (including Bushnell, Primos, Federal Premium, etc.), Trijicon, and many others
� Data collection for the nation’s top universities: Auburn University, Colorado State University,Duke University, George Mason University,Michigan State University, Mississippi StateUniversity, North Carolina State University,Oregon State University, Penn State University,Rutgers University, Stanford University, TexasTech, University of California-Davis, University of Florida, University of Montana,University of New Hampshire, University ofSouthern California, Virginia Tech, and WestVirginia University
5
PRESENTATION OVERVIEW
� Methodology
� Open Water Fishing
� Ice Fishing
� General Attitudes Toward Fishing in Maine
� Opinions on Specific Aspects of Fishing Access
� Attitudes Toward Fishing Regulations in Maine
� Credibility of Information Sources
6
Methodology
7
Methodology� Scientific multi-modal survey of Maine
licensed resident and nonresident anglers• n=1,205 (+/- 3.16)
� Data collected by telephone and mail
� Sampling and analysis by region:• Northern• Downeast• Central• Southern
� Survey conducted January–February 2016
8
Maine Survey
Regions
9
Survey Results
10
Open Water Fishing
11
Q13. Did you open water fish on inland ponds, lakes , brooks, streams, or rivers in Maine during the 2015
open water fishing season?
1
24
75
0 20 40 60 80 100
Yes
No
Don't know
Percent (n=1205)
12
Q19. What inland freshwater species did you fish fo r during the 2015 open water fishing season? (Asked of those who fished in Maine during the 2015 open wate r
fishing season.)
1
8
1
2
7
11
22
48
58
2
2
1
0 20 40 60 80 100
Trout
Bass
Salmon - landlocked
Perch
Pickerel
Crappie
Northern Pike
Salmon - not landlocked
Sunfish
Char
Anything / no particular species
Don't know which species fished
Percent (n=911)
< 1%:MuskellungeSmeltSplakeWhitefish
*Multiple Responses
Allowed
13
Q189. How would you rate the quality of the open wa ter fishing during the 2015 open water season? Would y ou say excellent, good, fair, or poor? (Asked of those who
fished in Maine during the 2015 open water fishing season.)
2
8
21
48
22
0 20 40 60 80 100
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor
Don't know
Percent (n=911)
14
15
Percent of the following groups who rated open wate r quality in Maine as excellent or good:
55
65
66
67
67
69
69
72
73
74
74
74
75
71
70
69
0 20 40 60 80 100
Education level is bachelors degree or higher
Lives in a large city or urban area
Lives in Central region
Is female
Household income is $60,000 or more
Younger than the median age (49)
Is a nonresident
Total
Is male
Lives in Downeast region
Lives in a small city/town or rural area
Median age (49) or older
Education level is less than bachelors degree
Lives in Southern region
Household income is less than $60,000
Lives in Northern region
Percent
Percent of each of the following groups who rated o pen water fishing quality in Maine as fair or poor:
23.5
24.2
24.4
25.5
25.5
27.4
27.8
29.0
29.4
29.7
30.0
30.1
31.2
32.9
33.8
42.4
0 20 40 60 80 100
Lives in Northern region
Household income is less than $60,000
Lives in Southern region
Education level is less than bachelors degree
Median age (49) or older
Is male
Lives in a small city/town or rural area
Lives in Downeast region
Total
Is a nonresident
Younger than the median age (49)
Lives in a large city or urban area
Household income is $60,000 or more
Education level is bachelors degree or higher
Lives in Central region
Is female
Percent
16
Ice Fishing
17
18
Q190. Did you ice fish in Maine during the 2015 ice fishing season?
0
77
23
0 20 40 60 80 100
Yes
No
Don't know
Percent (n=1205)
Q196. What inland freshwater species did you ice fi sh for during the 2015 ice fishing season? (Asked of those
who ice fished in Maine during the 2015 ice fishing season.)
0
12
1
3
3
6
7
8
16
31
64
4
4
3
0 20 40 60 80 100
TroutSalmon - landlocked
BassNorthern Pike
PerchPickerelCrappie
Salmon - not landlockedCusk
SmeltSplake
WhitefishAnything / no particular species
Don't know which species fished
Percent (n=298)
< 1%:BullheadCharMuskellungeSunfish
*Multiple Responses
Allowed
19
Q357. How would you rate the quality of the ice fis hing during the 2015 ice fishing season? Would you say it was excellent, good, fair, or poor? (Asked of tho se
who ice fished in Maine during the 2015 ice fishing season.)
1
13
25
43
19
0 20 40 60 80 100
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor
Don't know
Percent (n=298)
20
21
Percent of each of the following groups who rated i ce fishing quality in Maine as excellent or good:
36.0
41.9
55.0
55.5
55.6
59.6
60.0
63.0
63.2
63.9
64.8
72.7
75.9
62.8
62.3
61.4
0 20 40 60 80 100
Is a nonresident
Lives in Downeast region
Is male
Education level is less than bachelors degree
Median age (49) or older
Household income is $60,000 or more
Lives in a small city/town or rural area
Lives in Southern region
Total
Lives in Central region
Younger than the median age (49)
Education level is bachelors degree or higher
Lives in a large city or urban area
Household income is less than $60,000
Lives in Northern region
Is female
Percent
Percent of each of the following groups who rated i ce fishing quality in Maine as fair or poor:
24.1
58.1
56.8
44.5
44.5
41.9
39.2
38.3
37.8
37.7
36.4
36.2
35.9
35.5
35.1
25.8
0 20 40 60 80 100
Is female
Lives in Northern region
Household income is less than $60,000
Lives in a large city or urban area
Education level is bachelors degree or higher
Younger than the median age (49)
Lives in Central region
Total
Lives in Southern region
Median age (49) or older
Lives in a small city/town or rural area
Education level is less than bachelors degree
Household income is $60,000 or more
Is male
Lives in Downeast region
Is a nonresident
Percent
22
General Attitudes Toward Fishing in Maine
23
Q358. Which fishing season do you enjoy the most: the open water fishing season, the ice fishing season, or do you enjoy both seasons equally? (Asked of those who fished open water and ice fished in Maine during th e
2015 fishing season.)
2
42
19
37
0 20 40 60 80 100
Open water fishingseason
Ice fishing season
Both seasons equally
No preference
Percent (n=244)
24
Q465. What is your state of residence? (Asked of th ose with nonresident licenses.)
2
2
2
5
6
6
8
10
34
4
4
3
0 20 40 60 80 100
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Pennsylvania
Connecticut
Florida
Vermont
New Jersey
New York
Virginia
Maryland
Rhode Island
North Carolina
Percent (n=388)
*26 states with representation < 2% not shown
25
Q360. What was your primary reason for fishing in Maine over the past 5 years?
1
4
8
25
31
31
0
0
0 20 40 60 80 100
To be with family and friends
For relaxation
For the sport
To be close to nature
To catch fresh fish for food
To catch large or trophy fish
None of the above
Don't know
Percent (n=1205)
26
Q361. Over the past 5 years, would you say your fis hing activity in Maine has increased, decreased, or rema ined
about the same?
1
24
53
23
0 20 40 60 80 100
Increased
Remained about thesame
Decreased
Don't know
Percent (n=1205)
27
Percent of each of the following groups whose fishi ng activity in Maine has increased in past 5 years:
13.5
30.2
27.1
24.3
24.2
23.7
23.5
23.0
22.7
22.7
22.6
21.3
21.0
20.9
20.2
19.3
0 20 40 60 80 100
Lives in Southern region
Younger than the median age (49)
Household income is less than $60,000
Education level is less than bachelors degree
Household income is $60,000 or more
Is female
Lives in a small city/town or rural area
Total
Lives in Central region
Is male
Lives in a large city or urban area
Lives in Downeast region
Education level is bachelors degree or higher
Is a nonresident
Median age (49) or older
Lives in Northern region
Percent
28
Percent of each of the following groups whose fishi ng activity in Maine has decreased in past 5 years:
18.0
29.7
29.0
27.0
27.0
25.3
24.8
24.6
24.0
23.7
23.7
23.3
22.2
21.8
21.6
19.8
0 20 40 60 80 100
Lives in Southern region
Lives in Northern region
Lives in Downeast region
Household income is less than $60,000
Median age (49) or older
Education level is less than bachelors degree
Lives in Central region
Is male
Lives in a small city/town or rural area
Total
Lives in a large city or urban area
Is female
Education level is bachelors degree or higher
Younger than the median age (49)
Household income is $60,000 or more
Is a nonresident
Percent
29
Q364. Do you agree or disagree that Maine's freshwa ter fishery resources are currently well managed by the
Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife?
57
28
4
4
3
5
0 20 40 60 80 100
Strongly agree
Moderately agree
Neither agree nordisagree
Moderately disagree
Strongly disagree
Don't know
Percent (n=1205)
85%
30
31
Percent of each of the following groups who agree t hat Maine's freshwater fishery resources are currently well
managed by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife:
81.581.582.983.583.684.284.3
86.086.286.886.987.187.5
85.485.284.9
0 20 40 60 80 100
Is femaleLives in Southern region
Younger than the median age (49)Household income is less than $60,000
Household income is $60,000 or moreEducation level is less than bachelors degree
Lives in a small city/town or rural areaLives in Central region
TotalIs male
Is a nonresidentLives in a large city or urban area
Education level is bachelors degree or higherMedian age (49) or olderLives in Northern region
Lives in Downeast region
Percent
32
Percent of each of the following groups who disagre e that Maine's freshwater fishery resources are curre ntly
well managed by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife:
2.6
13.0
8.47.9
7.7
7.5
7.4
7.17.0
7.0
6.6
6.4
5.85.5
3.5
2.7
0 20 40 60 80 100
Lives in Northern region
Lives in Central regionLives in a small city/town or rural area
Median age (49) or older
Is male
Lives in Southern region
Household income is less than $60,000Education level is less than bachelors degree
Lives in Downeast region
Total
Household income is $60,000 or more
Education level is bachelors degree or higherYounger than the median age (49)
Is a nonresident
Is female
Lives in a large city or urban area
Percent
Q368-Q374. Percent of respondents who strongly or moderately support each of the following regulation s:
62
63
65
66
73
77
60
0 20 40 60 80 100
Waters that are catch-and-release only
Low bag limits
Slot limits
Waters that are flyfishing only
Waters that areartificial lures only
High length limits
Waters where live baitfish are prohibited
Percent
33
34
Respondents' mean rating of how much each of the following should be a priority for the Department o f
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife:
7.3
7.4
7.4
7.7
8.0
8.7
7.3
6.3
0 2 4 6 8 10
Managing waters for the health of native fish popul ations wherepossible
Managing waters for the health of threatened and en dangered fishand wildlife species, even if it impacts recreation al fishing
opportunities
Providing as many recreational fishing opportunitie s as possible tohelp boost the state's economy
Working with landowners to allow more fishing acces s via privateproperties
Setting aside more land in Maine for conservation p urposes
Providing a diversity of fishing opportunities to s atisfy a widevariety of recreational angler interests
Acquiring more land for public fishing access
Managing waters for the health of non-sport fish sp ecies, even if itimpacts recreational fishing opportunities
Mean
Respondents' mean rating of the importance of each of the following to them personally in deciding where to
fish in Maine:
6.7
6.9
7.0
7.1
7.7
7.9
6.7
6.6
0 2 4 6 8 10
That the area offers solitude and pristine views ofnature
That the water body offers the type of fishing that Iprefer
That the water body has easy access
That the water body allows the type of tackle that Iprefer
That the water body offers a variety of fish specie s to becaught there
That the water body is managed for a large quantity ofthe fish
That the water body is managed for high quality fis h, butless quantity
That my camp, cabin, or home is on or near the body ofwater
Mean
35
Opinions on Specific Aspects of Fishing
Access
36
37
Q413. Did you have any problems accessing waters yo u fished or wished to fish during the last season in which
you went fishing in Maine? If yes, what were they?
0
2
1
1
1
1
4
91
1
0
0
0 20 40 60 80 100
No, did not experience any access problems
Land closed / posted
Poor maintenance of access areas
Lack of areas to fish in general
Crowded access areas
Unable to find place to launch a boat
Not sure where to go
No parking
Had to travel too far to fish
Other
Don’t know
Percent (n=1175)
*Multiple Responses
Allowed
Q420. Overall, in the past 5 years, would you say f ishing access in Maine has gotten better, gotten worse, or
stayed about the same?
10
9
69
13
0 20 40 60 80 100
Gotten better
Stayed about the same
Gotten worse
Don't know
Percent (n=1205)
38
Q421. Do you agree or disagree that there are an adequate number of state owned boat ramps in Maine?
5
6
7
4
36
32
11
0 20 40 60 80 100
Strongly agree
Moderately agree
Neither agree nordisagree
Moderately disagree
Strongly disagree
Not applicable / neverneeds them
Don't know
Percent (n=1205)
39
Attitudes Toward Fishing Regulations in Maine
40
41
Q423. How often do you look for information about fishing regulations in Maine?
0
7
16
25
22
30
0 20 40 60 80 100
Always
Frequently
Sometimes
Rarely
Never
Don't know
Percent (n=1205)
Q433. Do you think the fishing regulations in Maine are too strict, not strict enough, or about right?
3
3
85
10
0 20 40 60 80 100
Too strict
About right
Not strict enough
Don't know
Percent (n=616)
42
Q444. Do you agree or disagree that the fish consumption guidelines for various fish species iss ued
by the Department are clear and easy to understand?
1
3
5
1
26
63
0 20 40 60 80 100
Strongly agree
Moderately agree
Neither agree nordisagree
Moderately disagree
Strongly disagree
Don't know
Percent (n=403)
43
Credibility of Information Sources
44
Q447-Q454. Percent of respondents who rated each of the following as an extremely or very credible sour ce of
information on fisheries management in Maine:
29
32
84
79
66
59
37
34
0 20 40 60 80 100
A game warden with the Maine Department of InlandFisheries and Wildlife
A biologist with the Maine Department of InlandFisheries and Wildlife
A biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
A professor of biology or natural resources at theUniversity of Maine
A local angler organization
A local environmental organization
The American Sportfishing Association
Trout Unlimited
Percent
45