Volume 53

The Socio-economic Characterization of Tournament Anglers in Barbados


Authors
Antia, U.; McConney, P.; Ditton, R.B.
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Other Information


Date: 2002


Pages: 357-366


Event: Proceedings of the Fifty Third Annual Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute


City: Fort Pierce, Florida


Country: USA

Abstract

Information on social and economic characteristics of eighty tournament anglers in Barbados was obtained by interviews covering social and economic profiles of anglers; fishing pattems and angler expectations; attitudes towards commercial fisheries and interactions with them; and attitudes towards fisheries management and management measures. Toumament anglers are mostly white males who seek large pelagic fish, especially dolphinfish and billfish, which are also targeted by commercial fishermen. Dolphin are prized for consumption, and billfish particularly for the sporting challenge. Anglers sell their fish at local markets, and report both catch and non-catch motives for fishing. The importance of non-catch reasons, such as relaxation, was greater and catch motives. Anglers supported the introduction of fisheries management measures such as size/length limits, catch and release, closed areas, and fishery closures. Due to the multi-species nature of the fisheries, and reasons for targeting these fish, anglers did not support bag limits or catch and release for the more marketable species. There are few contlicts between toumament anglers and commercial fishermen, butamajor concern is the dwindling numbers of billfish caught. This is blamed on commercial longlining in Caribbean waters. Fisheries management planning in Barbados has ignored tournament anglers. This study facilitates their inclusion in management planning.

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