Assessing Maine’s Anglers Preferences for Fish Consumption
Sponsor: Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Department (MDIFW)
Project Team:
- Caroline Noblet, Associate Professor, School of Economics, Mitchell Center Faculty Fellow
- Dianne Kopec, Adjunct Faculty, Dept. of Wildlife, Fisheries and Conservation Biology; Mitchell Center Faculty Fellow
- Molly Shea, Graduate Student, School of Economics
The purpose of this project is to assess the fish consumption habits of Maine freshwater anglers, particularly fish consumption rates. This information is considered by the Maine Center of Disease Control in assessing the need and scope of fish consumption advisories and is the impetus for conducting this research survey. Recreational fishing is the primary source of wild freshwater fish in Maine since there are no commercially available wild sources. Existing relevant studies on wild freshwater fish consumption are dated and may not reflect any shifts in harvest and consumption practices. One existing study suggests considerable regional differences in freshwater fish consumption rates across the country, with some of the lowest consumption documented in the New England Region.
In addition to developing updated information on wild freshwater fish consumption rates for Maine anglers, the MDIFW is seeking information to understand motivations by Maine recreational anglers to either harvest or not harvest and consume freshwater fish, as well as angler preferences for certain species as table fare. We will contact anglers who hold a Maine fishing license (residents and non), to explore issues limiting sportfishing in Maine. The team will collect information on angler harvest and consumption practices – across different angler populations (ice vs. summer – including anglers’ current knowledge of environmental contaminants (PFAS, etc.) in fish. This survey will provide Maine with updated data in accordance with EPA guidelines to assist in informing development of freshwater fish consumption advisories in Maine and provide useful insights to MDIFW fishery program managers.