Shannon Bower and Steven Cooke bring sustainability to new hotbed of recreational fishing
Carleton University researchers Shannon Bower and Steven Cooke are applying leading Canadian expertise to the rapidly developing recreational fishing scene in India, one that at times conflicts with long-standing commercial and subsistence fishing.
Key Points
- The goal is to develop a framework for sustainable catch-and-release fisheries in India and the developing world.
- Global recreational fishing is a $190-billion industry. A lot of the growth in the industry over the last decade has been in developing and emerging countries.
- Emerging nations are areas where subsistence and commercial fishing provide employment and food security. The needs of all must be balanced, not just in human terms, but also in ecological terms.
- The researchers focused on the Mahseer, also know as the tiger of the water. These fish are a group of iconic, slow-growing species that have been targeted by recreational fishers in India since British occupation. They have been listed on the endangered species list and can grow up to 100 pounds.
- When it comes to recreational fisheries, Canada is at the forefront globally. We gather data on recreational fisheries and communicate it internationally.
Quotes
“One of the great things about working in recreational fisheries is that you are constantly surrounding by incredibly passionate dedicated people. It is rare that you come across somebody who loves fishing, but doesn’t care about these issues. It just doesn’t seem to happen. The people we were working with in India were perfect examples of this. They provided ground support, they took time off from their work or their studies, from whatever it was they were doing, to come and fish with us and help us out as much as possible.” Bower
“There is a lot of potential to use catch-and-release as a conservation tool. It can help the conservation of the species and get local communities involved by generating funds through licensing and tourism. By helping to support conservation and stabilizing these populations we are also helping to stabilize the economy of the subsistence communities.” Bower
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