Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program:
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

The goal of fisheries management is to provide for long term conservation of fisheries resources while at the same time optimizing the benefits that people obtain from the resources. For this reason, fisheries management involves the management of biological resources and of people. Understanding the concerns and desired experiences of anglers is an important aspect of maintaining satisfying fishing experiences for anglers and a successful fishery. In 1998, the Minnesota DNR conducted a statewide assessment of resident angler satisfaction with fishing experiences and attitudes and beliefs concerning fisheries management issues in the state (Minnesota Center for Survey Research 1998). In 2005 and 2011, 2018 follow-up statewide surveys were completed for the Minnesota DNR by the Minnesota Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit. This proposal is to complete a fifth cross-sectional statewide resident angler assessment that will allow exploration of changes, trends and new conditions. In the current research cycle, understanding anglers preferences concerning trade-offs in management foci and strategies under increasing conditions of budget constraints is again of particular interest to the Minnesota DNR. Purpose and Objectives: The purpose of this study is to provide a current update of angler attitudes and behaviors that can be compared with existing information over the past 24 years. The specific objectives of this study are to: 1. Determine anglers’ values, attitudes, norms and behaviors concerning fishing experiences, issues, and management. 2. Develop and refine a battery of items based on research studies in Minnesota and other states that will be used to track trends in angler’s preferences and attitudes on key issues and perceptions including satisfaction with the general fishing experience, satisfaction with the number and size of fish caught, perceptions of crowding, and other key indicators of the quality of fishing experiences. 3. Continue baseline data for tracking trends in angler perceptions and attitudes on various fisheries issues in Minnesota. 4. Determine differences between resident male and female anglers concerning values, attitudes, and behaviors. 5. Understand anglers’ preferences for trade-offs in management foci under constrained budget scenario