SEAFWA Journal Volume 3, March 2016

ISSN
2330-5142
SEAFWA Journal Volume 3, March 2016 cover

A Review of Marine Recreational Hook Regulations in the United States: Accessibility, Incorporation of Science, and Recommendations

SEAFWA Journal Volume 3, March 2016

The effects of fish-hook type on hooking location and post-release mortality of recreationally and commercially targeted fish species have been well studied. We examined how fisheries management agencies along the coastal United States had incorporated fish-hook data into fisheries regulations and how visible and accessible those regulations were to anglers. We reviewed state recreational hook regulations on natural resource agency websites of 23 states. To assess the accessibility of hook regulations to anglers, we conducted an online survey that was distributed by email to participants...