Social Stratification in Recreational Fishing Participation: Research and Policy Implications

Using the multiple stratification hierarchy perspective, this study examined the combined effects of age, race and ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status on recreational fishing. Sample data from 3,000 Texas residents were used to develop logistic regression models corresponding to three dependent variables for fishing participation. The dependent variables were measures of participation ever, in the past 5 years, and in the past 12 months. Gender, race/ethnicity, and age were the most consistent predictors across the three dependent variables. Gender and age exhibited a negative effect on fishing participation across the three models. Results for race/ethnicity were mixed. An analysis of predicted probabilities did not reveal strong evidence of a multiple stratification hierarchy in recreational fishing. The article concludes with implications associated with angler recruitment.

Keywords:

• age
• anglers
• ethnicity
• gender
• race
• socioeconomic status

Data collection for this study was supported by Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. Opinions expressed in the article represent the views of the authors only. We appreciate the helpful comments of the associate editor and anonymous reviewers on earlier versions of the manuscript.

Notes

∗∗∗p < .001

∗∗p < .05