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A recent survey by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources shows that Minnesotans want rules protecting lakes to be more restrictive, that the agency should base management decisions on biology, and that fish should be handled carefully by tournament participants.
These are among the findings of a survey developed by DNR fisheries researchers and conducted in 1998 by the University of Minnesota. The mail survey asked 1,600 randomly selected citizens whether they agreed or disagreed with statements on a range of topics.
Ron Payer, DNR fisheries chief, said the survey was conducted to provide the agency with better information about the public^s attitude toward various aspects of aquatic resource management in Minnesota.
"For us to make prudent decisions about the state^s fisheries, we need the best information possible," Payer said. "A big part of the equation is what the public thinks about these issues."
Among the survey findings:
1. Although most Minnesotans aren^t particularly bothered by fishing tournaments, the survey found that nearly one out of five anglers (18 percent) responded that a fishing tournament had interfered with their fishing or water-related recreation. The most common complaint was increased boat traffic from tournaments.
Payer said that the survey results indicate that tournaments are not causing a problem with most water recreationists, "but that^s likely because most tournaments occur on a relatively small number of waters. Anglers on those lakes who aren^t fishing in tournaments appear to have some legitimate concerns about crowding." Payer added that in 2000, the DNR will propose new fishing tournament regulations that would reduce tournament pressure on the heavily-used waters.
2. Minnesotans believe strongly that fish caught in fishing tournaments should be handled carefully by tournament participants. The survey found that 66 percent of respondents agreed that the DNR should not allow tournaments to weigh and display caught fish away from the water, such as at the Mall of America or other sites.
According to Payer, the DNR is against off-site weigh-ins because they can stress and even kill the fish. "It looks like our position has public support," he said.
3. Relatively few Minnesotans—even those who own shore land—oppose more stringent rules that would protect shoreline and lake bottom habitat. Only 24 percent of shore land owners and 16 percent of nonowners disagreed with a survey statement that rules protecting lake shores should be more restrictive.
Agreeing with the statement were 45 percent of land owners and 49 percent of non-land owners. Having no opinion were 31 percent and 35 percent, respectively.
"That tells us people understand the link between land use and quality fishing," Payer said. "We^re now more confident that the public will respond favorably to stricter land-use regulations intended to improve water quality and fish habitat."
4. Though the DNR has been often accused of not listening to anglers^ concerns, the survey found that an overwhelming percentage of citizens believe the agency listens to public concerns about fishing. Only 10 percent of respondents disagreed that the DNR listens.
"The survey shows that people know we^re responsive to their concerns," Payer said. "Obviously we can^t satisfy every single angler because often one angler has completely different wants from another. But we definitely treat all public concerns seriously and with respect and these results show that people know that."
5. When it comes to decision making by the DNR, most respondents want the agency to do what^s best for the resource—even if that means thwarting public opinion. Only 16 percent of respondents disagreed with a statement that the DNR should use a management practice to benefit fish, even if the public does not believe it would be beneficial. Almost 60 percent of respondents agreed with the statement and 25 percent had no opinion.
"Our stakeholders want us to make biologically correct decisions and are generally confident that we will do so," Payer said.
6. Minnesotans are also willing to put up with the more complex fishing regulations that focus on the needs of individual lakes. "The Minnesota Fishing Roundtable has long recommended individual lakes management, but we didn^t know if the public in general supported the concept," Payer said. Apparently they do. Only 19 percent of respondents disagreed with a statement that the DNR should manage lakes individually, although the regulations may become more complicated. Thirty percent had no opinion and 51 percent agreed with the statement.
"This is good news for anglers," Payer said. "We^ve proceeded cautiously with individual lakes management so far, but now we^re more confident that we^d have general public support for applying this management approach to more Minnesota lakes."
Uploaded: 8/6/1999
Uploaded: 8/6/1999