The overlooked role of food and cultural dimensions in recreational fisheries

Abstract

Our study examines the diversity of values within a superficially homogeneous recreational fishery and its relationship to angler diversity. We collected data on fishing preferences, behaviors, catch usage, and sociodemographics from 443 shore anglers across 10 cities in the lower Great Lakes. We identified five coherent dimensions, including food, cultural, leisure, challenge/performance, and social-financial centrality, consistent with multidimensional value structuring in recreational fisheries. Based on these patterns, anglers were classified into three data-driven groups along a food provisioning-leisure/sport continuum: provisioning/food-oriented, cultural/community-oriented, and leisure/sport-oriented. We further characterized these groups by differences in their fishing preferences and sociodemographics. These findings provide empirical support that recreational and non-recreational values coexist and jointly characterize angler diversity in urban shore fisheries. Our study highlights the need for future research and management to treat food provisioning and cultural practices as core dimensions of recreational fisheries that reflect anglers' diverse values and needs.