Survey on Demand for Sport Fisheries: Problems and Potentialities for Its Use in Fishery Management Planning

Abstract

A mail questionnaire was sent to about 8,700 randomly selected Colorado anglers to determine their preferences and demands for sport fishing in the state. Quantification of angler demand was based on angler actions (constrained demand) as well as stated preferences (unconstrained demand). The importance of drawing a distinction between these two types of demand in fishery operations planning is described in the context of resource allocation: should our resources be managed for what anglers say they prefer or for what their actions indicate they want, or both? The interaction of demand and supply is presented in the framework of a fishery operations planning system being developed in Colorado. This system integrates supply and demand components of a fishery program in a classification system designed to enhance fishery managers' decisions by identifying the best uses of individual waters in the context of concepts such as wild, trophy, or unique species and put-and-take or put-and-grow fisheries. Difficulties were encountered in defining and describing management concepts for the angler, dealing with angler recall, and nonresponse bias. Descriptions of these concepts had to be couched in terms clearly understandable to the angler before a useful response to the other questions could be obtained. One suggested solution to angler recall problems was to gather information as soon after the peak of the angling season as possible. A telephone survey of selected nonrespondents proved extremely useful in refining various conclusions of the survey, particularly angler-use data. Without such a survey, we would have overestimated angler demand by 132%. Nonresponse surveys are highly recommended when soliciting information on angler demands.