Recreational Angler Contributions to Fisheries Management Are Varied and Valuable: Case Studies from South Florida

Recreational fisheries are complex social-ecological systems that are influenced by a variety of increasing stressors. In Florida (USA), recreational fishing is a US$9.2 billion industry and a vital aspect of the state's culture. However, many targeted species remain unregulated and understudied, which hinders identifying population declines or important ecological interactions. The complex nature of recreational fishing means traditional data collection and analysis methods for assessing stock status and trends are not always appropriate or feasible. Recently, fisheries scientists have begun to recognize the value and importance of angler knowledge, behavior, and collaboration, and how angler-derived data can complement existing biological data and provide new insights. The purpose of this study was to present an overview of three methods for involving anglers in research and provide case studies from South Florida that demonstrate the success of these approaches for assessing and managing recreational fisheries.