An Analysis of the Factors Influencing Fishing Participation by Resident Anglers

A survey of 7,000 property owners in the counties bordering Lake Ontario in New York State was conducted in 2009 to better understand the factors influencing fishing participation by resident anglers. Relationships among motivations, constraints, facilitators, demographic, and experiential characteristics, and fishing participation were studied. A total of 681 questionnaires were completed by anglers. Two factor analyses confirmed 9 motivations and 12 facilitators/constraints. Path analysis revealed direct relationships between fishing participation and gender, number of adult anglers in the household, and three factors perceived as facilitators by the average respondent (level of commitment to fishing, level of interest in fishing, and level of knowledge about fishing); none of the perceived constraints significantly influenced participation. Management efforts focused on increasing the knowledge and interest of resident anglers are suggested for increasing fishing participation in New York's Lake Ontario Region. Including facilitators in future studies on factors influencing participation is recommended.