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Stream Fisheries Management in the United States
Author(s) -
Fisher William L.,
Burroughs Jim P.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
fisheries
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.725
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1548-8446
pISSN - 0363-2415
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8446(2003)28[10:sfmitu]2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - business , fisheries management , wildlife , streams , fishing , fishery , environmental resource management , watershed management , watershed , management by objectives , stream restoration , habitat , environmental science , ecology , marketing , computer network , machine learning , computer science , biology
We administered a mail survey to 50 U.S. state fish and wildlife agencies to evaluate their stream fisheries management programs. Respondents from 44 states returned 74 completed warmwater and coldwater surveys. The primary goals respondents listed for managing stream fisheries were maintaining and improving ecosystem integrity and increasing angling quality and opportunities. On average, about half of the agencies' employees managed stream fisheries either part‐time or full‐time. Agencies allocated most of their stream money and time on management, research, and hatchery activities. Over 80% of the agencies surveyed stream fish, habitat, and anglers using common methods for various management activities. All agencies cooperated with federal and other state agencies, non‐governmental organizations, and some citizen groups to man‐age streams. Water quality and contaminants, watershed management, and habitat restoration were the top three rated issues affecting the management of streams. For stream fisheries management to be effective and successful, state agencies need a program with clearly‐defined goals, sufficient resources, current information, and cooperation with other interested agencies and groups.