Staying hooked: Effective science engagement and communication in recreational fisheries

Pablo Pita^1*Sean Tracey²Robert Arlinghaus^3,4Eneko Bachiller⁵Filipa Duarte⁶Keno Ferter⁷Filipe Henriques^6,8Samantha Hook⁹Kieran Hyder¹⁰Alejo Irigoyen¹¹María Paz Jiménez¹²Martín Laporta^13,14Adam M Lejk¹⁵Eoin Leonard¹⁶Hans Jakob Olesen¹⁷Freya Palmer¹⁸Mišo Pavičić¹⁹João Pontes²⁰Marta Pujol-Baucells^21,22Zachary Radford¹⁰Mafalda Rangel Oliveira²⁰William Roche¹⁶Hannah Rudd²³Diarmuid Ryan¹⁶Valerio Sbragaglia²²Jules Selles²⁴Catarina Ns Silva²⁵Christian Skov²⁶Harry V Strehlow²⁷Stephen Taylor²⁸Pedro Veiga²⁰Leonardo A Venerus¹¹Paul Venturelli²⁹David Vertegaal³⁰Marc Simon Weltersbach²⁷Martin Wiech⁷Alexander Winkler³¹

• ¹CICA - Interdisciplinary Center for Chemistry and Biology, Universidade da Coruña, Department of Biology, A Coruña, Spain
• ²Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
• ³Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Berlin, Germany
• ⁴Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
• ⁵AZTI, Marine Fisheries and Ecosystem Sampling and Data Collection (ItsasData), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Sukarrieta, Spain
• ⁶Direção de Serviços de Monitorização, Estudos e Investigação do Mar, Direção Regional de Pescas, Funchal, Portugal
• ⁷Institute of Marine Research, Bergen, Norway
• ⁸MARE–Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARNET–Aquatic Research Network, ARDITI Regional Agency for the Development of Research, Technology and Innovation, Madeira, Portugal
• ⁹Substance Ltd, Manchester, United Kingdom
• ¹⁰Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), Lowestoft, United Kingdom
• ¹¹Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CESIMAR, CCT CONICET-CENPAT), Puerto Madryn, Argentina
• ¹²Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO), Madrid, Madrid, Spain
• ¹³Dirección Nacional de Recursos Acuáticos, Ministerio de Ganadería, Agricultura y Pesca, Rocha, Uruguay
• ¹⁴Campus do Mar (CDM), Vigo, Spain
• ¹⁵National Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Gdynia, Poland
• ¹⁶Inland Fisheries Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
• ¹⁷Section for Monitoring and data, Technical University of Denmark, DTU Aqua, Lyngby, Denmark
• ¹⁸International Centre for Ecohydraulics Research, Faculty of Engineering and the Physical Sciences, Southampton, United Kingdom
• ¹⁹Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (IZOR), Split, Split, Croatia
• ²⁰Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR/CIMAR LA), Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal
• ²¹Institut Català de Recerca per a la Governança del Mar (ICATMAR), Barcelona, Spain
• ²²Institute of Marine Sciences, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
• ²³Angling trust, Herefordshire, United Kingdom
• ²⁴Independent consultant, Paris, France
• ²⁵Centre for Functional Ecology - Science for People & the Planet (CFE), Associate Laboratory TERRA, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
• ²⁶Section of Freshwater Fisheries and Ecology, Technical University of Denmark, DTU Aqua, Silkeborg, Denmark
• ²⁷Thünen Institute of Baltic Sea Fisheries, Rostock, Germany
• ²⁸Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development of Western Australia (DPIRD), South Perth, Western Australia, Australia
• ²⁹Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, United States
• ³⁰Sportvisserij Nederland, Bilthoven, Netherlands
• ³¹Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa

This abstract summarizes the results of two expert consultations conducted to gather insights into effective communication and engagement strategies in recreational fisheries.• Effective science communication fosters knowledge, understanding, and trust in both science and management decisions.• Public involvement and stakeholder engagement are essential for effective management.• Simplifying complex research findings and using diverse communication tools enhance awareness and understanding.• Strong communication strategies are necessary to implement sustainable recreational fisheries management frameworks.• Funding for communication efforts is often insufficient but remains crucial for success.• Participatory workshops and data-sharing arrangements enhance collaboration and involvement.• Multi-stakeholder consortiums and tailored communication strategies strengthen stakeholder engagement and promote adaptive governance.• Interdisciplinary outreach and strategic social media use play vital roles in raising environmental awareness.