Preferences and perceptions of the recreational spearfishery of the Great Barrier Reef.

ABSTRACT: Recreational fishing practices can have significant impacts on marine ecosystems but their catch dynamics are often difficult to quantify, particularly for spearfishing. On coral reefs, the impacts of recreational spearfishing are often considered to be negligible compared to other practices, but the highly selective method adopted by spearfishers can result in locally distinct ecological consequences. Here we investigated the spatial patterns and catch composition of recreational spearfishers on the Great Barrier Reef using an online survey (n = 141 participants) targeted at spearfishers active along the coastline of Queensland. Observations from within the Queensland spearfishing community were also used to explore perceived changes in catches of three functionally distinct spearing targ

SUBMITTER: Bradford T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6731020 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature