CERMES Technical Report No 3
Recreational Fishing in the British Virgin Islands:
Current Status, Opportunities for Development
and Constraints
COLIN P. GILLET, ROSEMARY DELAYNEY AND HAZEL OXENFORD
Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES)
University of the West Indies, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences,
Cave Hill Campus, Barbados
2007
ABSTRACT
Recreational Fishing in the British Virgin Islands:
Current Status, Opportunities for Development and Constraints
COLIN P. GILLET, ROSEMARY DELAYNEY AND HAZEL OXENFORD
This paper examines the potential to develop the recreational fishing industry in the British
Virgin Islands. It reports on the economic potential of the industry, identifies the constraints
facing its development as well as examines the recommendations made by the stakeholders
within the industry. The need for this information arises from the necessity for greater fisheries
contributions to the country's economy. There is, therefore, an increasing need to diversify not
only the fisheries product, but also the tourism one.
In order to gather this information, interviews were carried out with twenty visiting anglers to the
island, ten sport fishing charter boat operators, various government departments as well as the
banking sector and twenty of the local commercial fishermen.
Angler expenditures revealed a total of US$4,640,000 of direct injection into the local economy
using an eight-month sport-fishing season. These investigations revealed some constraints to
developing the industry which included political factors and a lack of timely and reliable
information. Interviews also focused on the demographics of the anglers, to get an idea of what
attracted them to come to the island and what they would like to see done to improve the
industry. The visiting anglers were all male with an average age of 44. The majority of them
were of Hispanic descent from Puerto Rico and the rest were Caucasian from the United States.
There were no Black anglers interviewed. For those anglers with their own boats, the cost per
trip depended on the type of fishing, but the main expenditure went to fuel. Marlin was the most
targeted species because of the challenge it gave in catching it. Anglers expressed support for
management tools, but indicated a need for more information on the fisheries resources to
properly manage it. Throughout the report, this need for information arises. Both anglers and
operators said that they were willing to support management tools and measures, but only if they
had sufficient data to make informed decisions. There was also much concern for the need for
increased surveillance and patrolling of the BVI waters to control illegal fishing by foreign boats.
Finally, the report did not take any definitive position on whether or not the recreational fishing
industry should be developed. It instead suggests possible recommendations that would need to
be strategically implemented before anything is done, including a recreational fishing policy to
outline and define what the industry is and how it is to be managed. Any decision should be
made only after looking more into the other factors that would affect the industry, including the
social and political ramifications. The only way this will work and be sustainable with be
through informed decisions.
i
CONTENTS
ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................................................. I
1
INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................................................1
1.1
OVERVIEW OF THE BVI AND ITS FISHING INDUSTRY....................................................................................1
1.2
CONSTRAINTS .............................................................................................................................................1
1.3
THE NEED FOR DIVERSIFICATION OF THE FISHING INDUSTRY .......................................................................2
1.4
WHY CHOOSE THE BVI FOR SPORT FISHING.................................................................................................3
1.5
OVERVIEW OF RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS ......................................................3
1.6
THE LACK OF INFORMATION ........................................................................................................................4
1.7
FISHERIES MANAGEMENT ............................................................................................................................4
1.8
STATEMENT OF STUDY OBJECTIVES.............................................................................................................5
2
METODOLOGY................................................................................................................................................5
2.1
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS..............................................................................................................6
3
RESULTS ...........................................................................................................................................................7
3.1
REVIEW OF PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED ........................................................................................................7
3.2
SOCIAL PROFILES OF ANGLERS ....................................................................................................................7
3.2.1
Race and ethnicity..................................................................................................................................8
3.2.2
Female anglers ......................................................................................................................................9
3.2.3
Angler's fishing experience ...................................................................................................................9
3.2.4
Fishing partners...................................................................................................................................10
3.3
THE NUMBER OF TIMES PER YEAR THAT ANGLERS GO FISHING ..................................................................10
3.4
COST PER TRIP FOR ANGLERS.....................................................................................................................11
3.5
ANGLERS' CHOICE OF FISHING DESTINATION.............................................................................................12
3.6
QUESTIONS ON THE SOCIAL EFFECTS OF DEVELOPING THE INDUSTRY........................................................12
3.7
SPECIES MOST TARGETED BY ANGLERS .....................................................................................................13
3.7.1
Reason for choice of species targeted..................................................................................................14
3.8
PARTICIPATION IN FISHING TOURNAMENTS ...............................................................................................15
3.8.1
Reasons for increased participation in sport fishing tournaments ......................................................15
3.8.2
Suggestions for increased participation in sport fishing tournaments.................................................16
3.9
INTERVIEWS WITH CHARTER BOAT OPERATORS.........................................................................................17
3.10
INTERVIEWS WITH LOCAL FISHERMEN .......................................................................................................19
3.10.1
Other financial considerations........................................................................................................20
3.11
ECONOMIC IMPACT OF RECREATIONAL FISHING ON THE BVI ECONOMY....................................................21
3.11.1
Cost per person for a one day trip to the islands for recreational fishing ......................................21
4
RECOMMENDATIONS.................................................................................................................................22
4.1
RECOMMENDATIONS TOWARDS FUTURE RESEARCH ..................................................................................25
4.2
OTHER ISSUES ...........................................................................................................................................25
5
CONCLUSION.................................................................................................................................................26
6
REFERENCES.................................................................................................................................................28
7
APPENDIX 1: RECREATIONAL FISHERMEN QUESTIONNAIRE .....................................................31
8
APPENDIX 2: CHARTER BOAT OPERATOR QUESTIONNAIRE .......................................................32
Citation
Gillet, C., R. Delayney and H. Oxenford. 2005. Recreational fishing in the British Virgin Islands:
Current status, opportunities for development and constraints. CERMES Technical Report No. 3.
32pp.
ii
1 INTRODUCTION
One of the major problems in fisheries management is the scarcity of information. In the British
Virgin Islands (BVI) and probably the wider Caribbean, some of the main reasons for this is the
lack of trained personnel, and technology. Even more significant is the lack of funds to carry out
the studies needed to get information to use as an effective guide for development of any sector
within the fishing industry (OECS, 1999). This report is an attempt to provide information on the
marine recreational fishery; its potential, constraints, and recommendations to be used for the
management and possible development of this industry in the British Virgin Islands. It should be
noted that the words recreational fishing are used to refer to fishing for sport. The phrase
recreational fishing is used interchangeably with sport fishing throughout this report.
1.1 Overview of the BVI and its fishing industry
The British Virgin Islands is a cluster of 36 islands and cays in the Caribbean, only 16 of which
are inhabited. Located about 80 kilometers 60 miles east of Puerto Rico, north of the Leeward
Islands, and adjacent to the U.S. Virgin Islands, the BVI has a total surface area of 59 square
miles (151.04 km) and a total population estimate of 19,000 (Development Planning Unit BVI,
2001).
Signs of the influences of fishing on the community and culture of the people of the BVI can
clearly be seen in the number of fishing boats docked in the marinas and the string of nets being
fixed in back yards and in trees along the roadside. Divided mainly into traditional `artisanal,'
and recreational fishing, the fishing industry has been more artisanal than recreational. Marine
recreational fishing is fishing not for commercial purposes, but more for relaxation, pleasure,
amusement, and subsistence (Antia, 2000). It encompasses a broad and complex industry.
Directly related Sectors to recreational fishing include, bait and tackle shops, charter companies
and guides, tournaments, marinas and boatyards, fish camps, and other fishing-related dealers.
Indirectly related sectors include coastal motels, restaurants, and other leisure and tourism
sectors of the economy.
1.2 Constraints
Throughout the years, the recreational fishing sector, and the fishing industry on a whole has
never really been a major contributor to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). A "large
percentage of its inherent revenue earning potential is still under-exploited" (Conservation and
Fisheries Department, 1997). This can be seen in the low contribution of 2.5% to the GDP
(OECS/NRMU, 1998). In 1997, this value was estimated to be US $5.2 million (Pomeroy,
1999). One reason for this is because "...there are fundamental differences between commercial
and recreational fishing and until those differences are recognized, the recreational fishing sector
will never be an equal partner with competing interests in discussions about fishery resources"
(American Sportfishing Association, 2001). Perhaps the simplest explanation is that the primary
objective of commercial fishermen is to sell their catch. Many older fishermen would not go
fishing just to throw the fish back into the water. For these older fishermen, going fishing was
probably not for the fun of it. For sport fishermen, who usually practice `catch and release
fishing', the removal of the fish by commercial fishermen makes it difficult for them to get the
experience of actually catching something. Simple differences like this can cause many problems
when it comes down to cooperation between the two types of fishing. But these simple
differences have to be overcome because diversification in any industry helps that industry to
grow and gives it more stability down the road. If commercial fishing fails one year, then
1
recreational fishing will still be there to bring in foreign exchange to the country. Only with real
cooperation through diversification can any solid injection to the country's GDP be seen. More
on this topic of diversification will be looked at in section 1.3.
Another major constraint to greater contributions of the fishing sector to the economy has also
been the lack of capital (Conservation and Fisheries Department, 1997), to increase fishing
effort. Over the years, however, this has changed. This increased effort by the fishers has come
about in part due to the increased demand by more and more tourists for seafood. This increased
effort does not, however, mean an increase in the catch rates. On the contrary, statistical
evidence reveals that the average catch per haul has fallen by 50% from 1975 to 1991
(OECS/NRMU, 1998). In a recent study, 77% of the fishermen interviewed said that the fishing
industry was in worse condition than five years ago (Pomeroy, 1999).
1.3 The need for diversification of the fishing industry
Although some might see differences in the types of fishing as a constraint, diversification of any
industry is necessary to provide long term stability of that industry. This is done by not `putting
all your fish in one basket' and providing many uses of the same resource. With many of the
local fishermen indicating that fishing isn't what it used to be, there is a definite need to diversify
the fishing industry so that the fishing resource will not just be left without being used. This
"Urge for diversification of the economy could be met by increased government investment in
the fisheries sector, where new areas with high yield potential could be exploited (Conservation
and Fisheries Department, 1997). This investment in diversifying the industry should look into
marine tourism, which is already established over the world not only as a major money earner,
but also as a conservation tool used by governmental departments allowing sustainable use of the
country's resources. "Marine tourism is a major component of a massive global tourism
industry" (Mugatroyd, 1999). The Conservation and Fisheries Department emphasizes that
fisheries play an important role in tourism, noting that,
"...the sport fishery has a multi-million dollar earning potential and their proper
development should be considered as a strategic priority." This fact has also been
recognized by the United States Government. The Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries
Conservation Act (1996) of the United States sees recreational fishing as "fishing
for sport or pleasure" and has recognized the fact that "...recreational fishing
constitutes a major source of employment and contributes significantly to the
economy of the Nation", and has as one of its aims in fisheries management "to
promote domestic, recreational fishing under sound conservation and management
principles, including the promotion of catch and release programs in recreational
fishing."
When developing any fishing sector, especially a recreational fishery, there has to
be a ready supply of the resource, management and policy in place, and a
commitment to sustainability of the resource. In the British Virgin Islands (BVI)
"the resource base provides a major attraction for the tourism industry, making
recreational fishing critical..." (Fisheries Management Plan, 1998).
With regard to the requirements for developing a sport fishing sector (a ready supply of the
resource, a commitment to sustain the resource, and management and policy in place) the BVI
already has the two former requirements. It now only needs to get the proper management tools
in place.
2
1.4 Why choose the BVI for sport fishing
Because of its size, speed and spectacular jumps, many big game fishermen consider blue marlin
the top prize in the saltwater angling world. In the BVI, the North Drop is considered one of the
"best-known billfish destinations in the Caribbean region" (Chambers and Franck, 2001). It is
considered one of the best destinations to fish because "to be viable, the sport fishery must
provide anglers with an opportunity to go fishing and an expectation and opportunity to catch
some fish (Government of British Columbia). The North Drop of the BVI does exactly that.
The reason for the high populations of the Atlantic blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) and the
white marlin (Tetrapturus albidus) is because they are highly migratory species. It is the ocean
currents, especially their edges, that bring these marlin through the BVI and the Caribbean
region, moving them north as the ocean warms in the late summer and fall until winter drives
them south (Gillis, 1999).
Although this ready supply of marlin is the main reason for anglers to go fishing in the BVI,
there are other factors that play an important role in attracting them to the island. These include
the aesthetics of the island, and uncrowded marinas, but these will only remain with the help and
dedication of the managers. The commitment of the Fisheries Department as well as marina
managers is strong and can only benefit the development of this recreational industry.
1.5 Overview of relations with the United States Virgin Islands
Despite the commitment to protect their resources and the need by government to diversify the
fishing industry, there have been other political constraints facing the industry. "Its performance
has been hampered by such constraints as inadequacies in existing policies...and conflicts in the
use of traditional fishing grounds for tourism" (Conservation and Fisheries Department, 1997).
This conflict presents itself in the tension with the relations with the United States Virgin Islands
(USVI). In a recent report on the USVI/BVI matters, issues raised by the BVI Government
ranged from its right to manage its fisheries resources, to develop its own sport fishing industry
and to gain some economic opportunities from the present sport fishing industry (Abednego, et
al, 2000). USVI officials responded to this, along with the move of the Chief Fisheries Officer to
suspend all recreational fishing licenses by stating that that action was out of place because it
was the "St. Thomas' interests that run and promote the majority of billfish tournaments which
attract sport fishing tourism in the first place" (Marlin 1999). This would affect their recreational
fishing industry, since many of their charter boats fish within BVI waters. "It is important to
note that only 28.2% of licensed boats are based in BVI, which is an indication of the level of
local participation in the fishery. In 1998, there were only seven charter boat owners doing
recreational fishing (Pomeroy, 1999). Further analysis of the data showed that 63.4 % of the
vessels are based in the USVI, a trend that has been maintained for the past six years
(Conservation and Fisheries Department, 1997). The presence of these foreign boats in the
territorial waters has always affected the commercial fishermen, where the main problem was not
only the large number of foreign fishing boats coming in to fish, but also that the fish were not
landed at the BVI Fishing Complex which had been reporting a scarcity of fish (Pomeroy, 1999).
The fish were instead landed in the USVI. To date, the legal aspects of territorial waters and
boundaries continue to be looked at. Any development of the recreational fishing industry would
require some resolution of this issue.
3
1.6 The lack of information
The development and promotion of recreational fishing in smaller Caribbean states, however,
will have other problems as well in the first stages. One of the major problems with developing
recreational fisheries has been the lack of information on the industry.
"The limited documentation on the performance of the recreational fishery in the
BVI is a constraint to the determination of its potential for development"
(Conservation and Fisheries Department, 1997).
This study went on to say that,
"it should be emphasized that the sustainability of any development project for
the fishing industry would be largely determined by an effective data collection /
management system, as well as a realistic stock assessment of the fishery
resources. This is important to avoid the disastrous collapses that have befallen
previously under exploited fisheries all over the world."
This need for information in fisheries management was also identified in the Magnuson-Stevens
Act, (1996) where it states that,
"The collection of reliable data is essential to the effective conservation,
management, and scientific understanding of the fishery resources...."
This is also seen in the fact that most studies on evaluating the potential for development of a
resource usually end by recommending more studies being done on the subject. This need for
more research also includes the need for economic valuation of the industries and what effect
changes in visitor expenditure will have on the country's economy.
Today, in most assessments of environmental resources and the development for sustainable use
of them, the economic value of that resource is used to give an idea of that resource's potential
for development. "Economic valuation is the attempt to assign quantitative values to the goods
and services provided by environmental resources" (Barbier, et al, 1997). This economic value
of resources will go far in determining which decisions will be made in relation to the goals of
management and their plan for the future.
1.7 Fisheries management
The design of fishery management programmes is an ongoing process due to the dynamic nature
of the fishery resources. "Programmes for the conservation and management of the fishery
resources are necessary to prevent over-fishing, to rebuild over-fished stocks, to ensure
conservation, to facilitate long-term protection of essential fish habitats, and to realize the full
potential of the fishery resources" (Magnuson-Stevens Act, 1996). The work of these fisheries
managers is not only to protect and preserve, but also to develop and find ways to utilize the
resource sustainably. Having a resource and not using it would just be a waste. Sustainable use
helps us to have the resource almost indefinitely. It is only when mismanagement and overuse
step in, that problems arise and we lose what we overuse.
The objectives of fisheries management should be "biological balance and integrity as well as the
quality of the fishing experience" (National Park Service, 1997). Without a good fishing
experience, the anglers will not want to come back. So managers should look into every aspect
of that fishing experience. This includes working along with the hotels and charter boat operators
to ensure that cooperation among all those involved is to give the best overall experience
4
possible to the angler. What should be made clear is that "Traditional management efforts that
focus on maximizing size and number of fish harvested will not be sufficient to provide all the
opportunities and experiences desired by this growing non-traditional angler segment" (Sutton,
2001). It is for this reason that reports such as this one also put some focus on angler's
willingness to support management efforts. Without inputs from the stakeholders themselves, the
fishery would not run smoothly and would ultimately be unsustainable.
Development of any industry requires that the resources are available, the proper management
tools and policy are in place based on reliable and timely information gathering, and that
stakeholders are not only informed but are an integral part of the decision making process.
Without these, sustainable usage of fisheries resources will not be achieved.
1.8 Statement of study objectives
As stated in the beginning of this report, one of the major problems has been the lack of
information about recreational fishing. One of the few reports of the recreational fishing sector
by Alimoso and Hodge (1993) analyzed some licensing data kept at the Conservation and
Fisheries Department, but did not report in depth on the potential benefits that could come from a
local recreational fishery. This research was undertaken to look at the economic and social
benefits and constraints in developing a recreational fishing industry. This would lead to a better
understanding of the recreational fishing industry in order to give officials information to
consider this industry as a strategic priority. Also by getting the views from the different possible
stakeholders in the industry, recommendations on how to manage the industry sustainably would
also be available.
Another objective of this study was to attempt to fill the gaps in information by reporting and
examining the views of those in the industry, those who utilize their services as well as those
who would be interested in getting into the industry and the constraints they face in doing so. In
essence, the information from this report will help decision makers get an idea of the state of the
industry and possible steps to make the industry grow and be sustainable in the future. This paper
can thus be used as a starting point for more information gathering on the industry, to keep track
of the resulting effects on the economy and environment in order to have a dynamic management
plan, and the ability to adapt to changes in the industry. A well designed management approach
in this industry would not only make it sustainable, but could be adjusted for adoption by other
fishing sectors as well.
2 METODOLOGY
The information needed about the industry, its users and stakeholders was gathered through
surveys, interviews, and by looking at the available information on the industry. In order to
gather information on the economic benefits to the country, charter boat owners were asked
about the costs of running their boats, the number of anglers they took out per day, as well as the
cost per trip. The information looking at the social aspects of developing the recreational
fishery was gathered through interviews with the public from the fishermen, as well as
recommendations on how they believe the industry can be developed. Views of those
interviewed were also obtained on their willingness to support management tools like bag limits,
open and closed seasons etc.
Although all was done to ensure that the interviews were completed fully with different groups
of individuals within the industry, some persons did not respond to some questions in the survey.
5
Although this was not the first time such a study has been conducted, trend data was not able to
be gathered since only one other such study was done eight years ago (Alimoso and Hodge,
1993).
The data analysis contained in this report highlights the particulars of the data and important
insights gained from the interviews. This report also identifies questions and issues that need
further examination, and provides recommendations for future research based on the results.
2.1 Data collection and analysis
In this study, the questionnaire was used as a guideline for interviews with twenty anglers and
ten charter boat operators who were on the island at the time. Over a two-month period,
information was gathered about the angler's demographic characteristics. For the recreational
fishers (Appendix A), questions one to seven were aimed at getting information on age and
gender, preferred fishing partners as well as ethnicity. Such information allows managers and
marketing groups to "better understand the stakeholders that are in fisheries...and to develop
programmes responsive to the needs and abilities of these stakeholders" (Antia, 2000). Questions
eight to thirteen were designed for those anglers who visited the island in their own fishing boats,
and were geared at gathering information on their fishing trips. Questions fourteen to eighteen
targeted their involvement in sport fishing tournaments, while the last questions were aimed at
gaining their suggestions for what could be done to develop the industry, and the constraints
facing this development.
For the charter boat operators, their demographic characteristics were not looked at, but the
questions were designed to gain information on their fishing trip, how they market their service
and their attitudes towards management issues, as well as their suggestions for developing the
industry.
The anglers and operators were found at four of the marinas on the islands. The interviews were
not scheduled, but both groups were very cooperative in answering the questions. Interviews
with the operators were conducted based on a list of the known operators in the industry. This
list was compiled from advertisements in the newspapers and magazines on the island and from
recommendations from others in the industry. While this list is as comprehensive as possible, it
may not include every operator. Some charter operators did not just do sport fishing activities,
but instead did other charters as well, including taxi services. There may be other sources
available and should be included in any future survey effort.
Interviews were also conducted with other departments and businesses in the industry. These
included the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour, Development Planning Unit, the Yacht
Charter Services, as well as the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries in St. Thomas. These
interviews proved to be very helpful in gathering information about the industry including views
on how it could be developed. Interviews were also conducted with the Development Bank as
well as two other commercial banks on the island to see how difficult it would be for fishermen
to get loans to support their participation in the industry. The information gathered from the
questionnaire interviews was compiled and simple statistical analysis was done using the
Microsoft Excel Program.
Interviews were also held with the local commercial fishermen to get their feelings about the
industry, and about the possibility of their entrance into the recreational fishery and the
constraints preventing them from doing so.
6
In order to get an idea of the angler's total expenditure, the average per day trip expenditure was
multiplied by the average number of days fished by the anglers, and then multiplied by the
average number of anglers taken on a one day trip. This number was then expanded over the
entire eight-month recreational fishing season. This gave a total expenditure of the anglers in one
season of recreational fishing in the island. The Economic Multiplier is a calculation used by
economists to measure not just the actual dollars spent, but the value of those dollars when they
are spent again. This multiplier was calculated using a known multiplier value for that island to
see the overall economic effect of the direct expenditure of the anglers on the island's economy.
Much of the information was presented as qualitative data and not quantitative. The reason for
this stems from the fact that,
"...Qualitative data provide depth and detail for smaller numbers of people,
whereas quantitative data uses standardized measures for larger groups of people
and often allow generalizations about some broader category of
people...qualitative data can be extremely useful in gauging the variety of
potential reactions to alternative fisheries management strategies and in helping
fisheries managers understand the reasons underlying the behavior or beliefs of
fisheries stakeholders" (Murphy and Willis, 1996).
The information was then presented in the results/discussion section of the research.
Recommendations were gathered and presented from the findings from the research on how to
better manage the industry and what would first be needed in order for the industry to develop.
3 RESULTS
3.1 Review of problems encountered
It was expected that some problems would be encountered. These included the unavailability of
some operators for interviews and lack of response to some questions. For this reason, the
questionnaires were used to guide the interview, so the structure of each interview was different
for each respondent. Another limitation included the lack of literature to review on recreational
fishing in the BVI.
One of the main limitations faced in doing the study was the limited numbers of anglers available
to participate because of the time of year the exercise was done. By looking at the tourist
statistics for the BVI for the past five years, it was found that the months of July-September are
lowest months for tourist arrivals and sport fishing anglers (Development Planning Unit
Statistics, 2000). Coincidentally, this was also the time during which the study was done. Despite
this, all attempts were made to interview as many anglers present as possible.
Comparable questions were used from a similar survey conducted on the island of Barbados.
Some of the information gathered in the Barbados report was used in the results and discussion
section of this paper as a means of comparison with that island.
3.2 Social profiles of anglers
There were a total of twenty recreational anglers interviewed from three different marinas.
These anglers were identified by the type of boat they had, and whether they actually did sport
fishing in the area. The average age of the anglers was 44 years. Of those interviewed, 5% were
in the 2130 age group, 30% of them ranged from 31-40 years, another 30% were in the 41-50
age group. The remaining anglers aged 50 and above made up a total of 35% (Figure 3.1).
7
This shows that while sport fishing is still a "young" developing sector of the fishing industry,
many of those anglers actually fishing in the waters for sport were older than fifty. This age
distribution for this area shows a huge contrast with that of the anglers in Barbados, where the
mean age was only 33 years (Antia, 2000). This ten-year difference in age shows the relatively
young population of anglers in Barbados in contrast to the BVI. Trying to target younger anglers
in the BVI might may necessitate offering more than `just fishing' to this group since younger
anglers might not be as seasoned and dedicated as older ones. For this reason, marketing
strategies could include offering fishing classes as well as hands on training in special fishing
techniques. In contrast to this however, the sooner younger anglers get involved in fishing in the
BVI, the more likely they are to return year after year, and the BVI would have a larger
population of dedicated anglers.
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
21-30
31-40
41-50
50+
Figure 3.1 Age distribution of anglers
3.2.1 Race and ethnicity
All of the anglers interviewed were male, of which 30% were White from different parts of the
United States of America, and those that were of Hispanic descent (70%) were from Puerto Rico.
There were no Black anglers interviewed, unlike in Barbados where 8% of the anglers were
Black, 16% were mixed and an additional 3% were Indian. The number of White anglers also
made up the majority of anglers in Barbados also with an overwhelming total of 73% (Antia
2000). This, however, is only to show a contrast between the two islands. Reasons for
participation by other ethnic groups in recreational fishing in Barbados could be different for
non-participation in the BVI, especially when one takes the differences in culture as a major
factor. One would be inclined to believe that the reason for more Whites being involved in
recreational fishing is because more Whites could afford to go recreational fishing. But this does
not necessarily have to be the case. It could be that Blacks in the BVI have traditionally been
commercial fishermen, and it was never part of culture to go recreational fishing, not because
they cannot afford to do so. Fedler (2000) corroborates this point in stating that "...regardless of
socioeconomic standing, cultural processes are more important in explaining variation between
Blacks and Whites in leisure participation patterns." If the constraint to participation in
recreational fishing is due to a lack of substantial disposable income, managers should find ways
to accommodate more Blacks into the industry. One way to achieve this goal would be to target
the black youths of the island. By doing this, the parents would be encouraged to take part in
tournaments, and other activities aimed at socializing the `new' generation towards sport fishing.
Managers should see constraints only as an influence on an individual's preferences and
behaviour, but not as barriers to their participation. Ethnic groups of any economic standing
8
should believe that they can take part in sport fishing, and it should be management's role to
facilitate this participation.
Participation by the other ethnic groups will only come about if managers are up to the challenge
of re-socializing these groups of people. As shown in the earlier part of this report, anglers
socialized into fishing from early childhood were found more than likely to remain fishing in
adulthood. The re-socialization of older anglers might take a longer time, because it would entail
moving anglers out of what they have always known, and offering them something `new.'
The importance of looking at ethnicity and race therefore, must be taken into consideration in
management decision making. Managers therefore have to ask questions such as how will the
characteristics of these anglers change in the coming decades, and what effects will changes in
the demographics of the angler population have on the level of future demand for recreational
fishing? (Murdock and Hoque, 1998). This also calls for a sustained and focused research effort
targeted on helping managers meet the needs of their increasingly diverse customers. Only then
will the goal of increased angler participation be achieved.
It was also observed that most of the Hispanic anglers had their whole family along with them on
their fishing trip. Investigations into reasons for this revealed that it is usual for Hispanic anglers
to recreate in groups larger than other ethnic groups, and they also placed greater importance on
the family oriented benefits of recreation than other groups (Fedler, 2000).
3.2.2 Female anglers
Although there were no female anglers interviewed some of the wives of the anglers enjoyed
fishing, going as far as saying that they were better than their husbands. This interest by the
wives of the anglers could be developed through the appropriate design of advertising to allow
these wives to play a greater role in fishing trips than just that of housewife.
By understanding the differences of women and men in their motives, managers would be able to
use this information to design more gender appropriate messages and programmes that will
increase participation and result in a whole new market opening up in the industry. In today's
society, women are usually considered to be the caregivers for children and responsible for most
domestic chores which leave them with little time for outdoor recreation like sport fishing. This
view is supported by Fedler (2000). These extra considerations would have to be taken care of
first before these wives would be inclined to participate in sport fishing. Some suggestions
include the creation of day care centers, and other services that would give the women time to go
fishing without having to worry about the family, and what they are going to eat, etc. Also, with
the number of female visitors to the island increasing tremendously over the past few years
(Development and Planning Unit Statistics), there is great potential for developing other women-
only outdoor activities. Education programmes and training sessions on fishing techniques could
get them involved in specific types of fishing such as the art of fly-fishing, and long lining.
These programs would also follow from the whole idea of re-socializing of anglers.
3.2.3 Angler's fishing experience
Anglers were asked about their main fishing influence. From the results of the interviews, we can
see the importance fathers played in getting these anglers interested in fishing since 60% of those
interviewed stated that they were influenced in fishing by their fathers. Many of the anglers
stated that from the time they were old enough to hold a rod and reel, their fathers began to take
them out fishing. From these early days of their childhood, the `fever' of catching fish has stuck
9
with them. The rest of those interviewed, 40%, got interested in fishing from their friends. Many
of them stated that they still fish with the same people every year. This follows from studies
showing that there is a link between childhood recreation socialization and continued
involvement in that recreational activity, and that strong family ties influence recreation behavior
(Fedler,2000).
3.2.4 Fishing partners
Anglers were asked who they preferred going fishing with more often. This question was asked
in order to see how the anglers were to be targeted in advertising. From the interview, 65% of the
anglers stated that they preferred going fishing with just their friends because they have been
fishing with these persons for years and were able to take a break from the family (Figure 3.2).
20% of the anglers preferred fishing with their family because it allowed them to spend `quality'
time with them doing an activity that brought them closer. The other 15% had a mixed
preference, towards their fishing partners, stating that it didn't really matter who they went
fishing with, as long as they were fishing. By breaking down the information gathered, we can
see that anglers go fishing 1.6 times more with their friends than with their families.
This information can be used by the tourism industry to focus their marketing strategy, especially
when looking at package tours for families or for other groups such as friends. Other incentives
would only encourage and attract more groups. With family groups, there would be additional
consideration for activities for children to do while the parents are out fishing as well as the kind
of food and drinks to be taken on the trip. With only a group of friends, some of these
considerations might not be so critical.
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Friends
Friends/Family
Family
Figure 3.2 Preferred fishing partners by anglers
3.3 The number of times per year that anglers go fishing
Anglers were asked how many times per year they went fishing. For the purposes of this
research, `going fishing' refers to the number of times anglers go fishing while on their vacation,
whether it is for a couple of days or a few weeks. The anglers interviewed went fishing an
average of 4.7 times per year, with most of the anglers, 30% of them, going fishing a total of 3
times per year. The number of times per year that an angler went fishing ranged from 1 to 8. By
comparing the number of times the anglers went fishing with their fishing influence, it was found
that although most of the anglers became interested in fishing because of their fathers', they went
10
fishing more times a year with their friends, allowing us to target more trips for groups of friends
than just mere family trips (Figure 3.3).
When asked about the length of time spent fishing, anglers reported an average of 8 hours every
time they went fishing or per day. What was found was that although most of the anglers went
fishing with their friends most of the time, those that went fishing with their family spent more
time fishing than those that went fishing with just their friends, spending an average of 11 hours
at sea. Some possible reasons for this is that with the additional activities and responsibilities of
the family caused more time to be spent on the sea, but time not necessarily spent fishing. This,
however, does not mean that those anglers who went fishing with their families didn't catch fish.
By comparing the average catch by preference in fishing partners, it was found that those who
preferred to go fishing with their family caught an average of 5 fish per person per trip, while
only an average of 4 fish per person per trip were caught by those anglers who went fishing with
their friends.
The optimum length of time to catch the most fish, with 4-7 anglers on a trip, was between 8-10
hours with an average of 35 fish per boat being caught. With less than 8 hours of fishing, anglers
only caught an average of 14 fish per boat, while more than 10 hours they caught an average 16
fish per boat. This simply means that you do not necessarily catch more fish when you stay
longer at sea. Operators can use this information in planning their trips and how long they
should be out at sea to provide the best fishing experience for their customers.
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
1 time
3 times
4 times
5 times
6 times
7 times
8 times
Figure 3.3 Average times per year that anglers go fishing
3.4 Cost per trip for anglers
Looking at the cost for each trip taken, the anglers who visited the island in their own boats
pointed out that it varied due to several factors, but the main factor being the cost of fuel. Other
costs included food, ice, medicine etc. Some of these costs however cannot be taken into
consideration when looking at the economic impact of these anglers on the island's economy,
since some of them bring their own food supplies with them and do not necessarily buy them in
the BVI.
The average cost of each day fishing trip by these anglers was then estimated by each angler and
ranged from about $750 to $1250 US depending on the size of the boat and the number of
persons going on the day trip. These figures are only estimates, since anglers kept no record of
11
their cost per trip. The other factors in the cost per day trip all had something to do with how
much fuel was being used, which included how far they went out fishing, the sea conditions, the
type of fishing done, and how long they were fishing. The farther out they went , the more likely
that the sea conditions were rougher than if they stayed closer to shore. The sea conditions is a
major factor in determining the cost of the trip since the rougher the sea , the more power would
have to be used to move the boat, resulting in more fuel being used. The type of fishing is also a
big factor in the cost of the trip since for example, trolling fishing is done by using rods and reels
pulling fishing lures behind a slow moving boat. This constant moving of the boat burns fuel by
the hour. This trolling method is used to target large oceanic pelagics like marlin. Regular hand
lining targets fish species like dolphin and does not need the boat to be moving, so it does not use
that much fuel.
3.5 Anglers' choice of fishing destination
The anglers were asked why they chose the BVI to go sport fishing. Results show that all of
them said that it was recommended to them to come here to go fishing by their friends. Because
of this power of `word-of-mouth' advertising, it is imperative that the fishing experience gained
by one customer is of such a quality that when he speaks of it, others will want to come.
Conversely, if the experience is not a good one, then that angler will not encourage others to
come. It is said that if a tourist has a good time on his trip, he will tell one or two people. If he
doesn't have a good time, he will tell more than ten people. This information is also useful when
thinking about marketing the fishing product, especially since so many people learn about the
island's resources from their friends. Offering deals for friends, free trips and other perks would
attract more of them. The more people who know about the islands as a sport fisherman's
paradise, the more will come to find out for themselves.
3.6 Questions on the social effects of developing the industry
After a couple days spent fishing here, respondents were unanimous about their high satisfaction
level. Sport fishing in the BVI was rated `excellent' not only because of the number of times
they were able to catch fish, but because of the beauty of the islands, and the fact that the area
was not so congested with boats as in the case of St. Thomas. This begs the question, if the
industry were to develop, would the people of the BVI want "Nature's Little Secret" to be out?
How would the people like the coast to be lined with large marinas and big boats? It could be
that this appreciation for the beauty of the island is the determining factor in what attracts the
tourists here, because they could easily be in St. Thomas where it would be cheaper for them to
moor and where the fuel prices are cheaper.
Speaking with an average of twenty-five random BVI islanders, it was discovered that they fully
supported developing the sport fishing industry, but also had similar concerns about having too
many boats changing the coastline. Already for such a small island, there are 19 marinas. With
larger boats coming in, this number could increase to about 25. Representatives from the largest
yacht charters on the island said that they don't get many complaints from their guests about
power boats disrupting their cruising, but they did acknowledge that the more crowded the island
got with boats, the less attractive it would become to tourists. One suggestion to offset this
increase in sport fishing boats would be to increase the number of anglers, but not the number of
boats. This could be done by having more charter boats taking out more people, instead of
having more sport fishing boats with less people on board. Attracting anglers to charter boat
trips would then deal with this problem of overcrowded marinas.
12
3.7 Species most targeted by anglers
Anglers were asked what species of fish they targeted most. Responses to this question showed
that the most preferred species was marlin, with 70% of the anglers going after this large pelagic
fish. One reason for this could be that the interviews were conducted during marlin season, and
so most of the anglers came during this time just for that type of fish. This bias could be
seasonal, with different anglers coming to the island at different times of the year to target
different species (Figure 3.4).
By knowing and understanding the different seasons of preferred fish, it would be possible to
create specific fishing tournaments only for specific types of fish. This would attract anglers
specialized at fishing specific types of fish to enter these tournaments and test their skills against
others of the world. By encouraging good competition, these annual tournaments would be
looked forward to by these anglers. Table 3.1 shows the times of year for the different type of
fishing season, as reported by different charter boat operators interviewed.
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Marlin
Dolphin
Wahoo
Tuna
Any Kind
Figure 3.4 Species most targeted by anglers
Table 3.1 Fishing seasons in the BVI
Wahoo Tuna Dolphin White
Marlin
Blue
Marlin It is important for
October
*
management to look
November
*
closely at these large
December
* * *
pelagics, in particular
January
* * *
because of their
transboundary nature,
February
* * *
making the stocks a shared
March
* * * *
resource by many different
April
* * *
*
nations. This could have
May
*
*
*
political considerations in
June
*
*
*
drafting any sort of
July
*
*
management plan for this
August
*
Bill-fishery. Also, because
there has been decline in
September
*
13
the population of marlin over the years (The Billfish Foundation, 1993), there has been a move
towards encouraging the practice of catch and release fishing, which would allow the fish to be
re-caught and not just taken and eaten. Organizations like the Billfish Foundation have already
been working with some of the charter boat operators to show them the importance of catch and
release fishing. Education is still needed in order to sensitize the public about the need to release
these fish if they are caught. In the end, however, it is still a decision made by the charter boat
operator on a day by day, customer to customer basis, and not one necessarily rooted in his
overall way of doing things. This view is supported by Sutton (2001) when he says that the
"choice to participate in catch and release will probably be made at the time the fish is
caught...." If regulations on recreational fishing in the future make catch and release fishing
mandatory, managers will have to find ways of ensuring it is done, evaluate how operators will
react, and determine what effect it would have on the overall fishing experience for the angler.
The other anglers, 10% of them, targeted dolphin and tuna as the second most wanted fish, while
wahoo were only targeted by 5% of the anglers. The remaining 5% said that it did not matter
what kind of fish they were catching, as long as they could catch something. These anglers can
therefore be targeted in advertising by showing them that they will gain more than just a chance
of catching fish, but more, have the best fishing experience possible. Sutton (2001) agrees and
reports that in a previous study, anglers rated water quality, natural beauty, and privacy while
fishing more important than the size and number of fish caught. These characteristics are all
present in the BVI, with many secluded areas where anglers could be alone, fishing in crystal
clear water. These should be marketed as bonuses to the fishing experience in the BVI.
3.7.1 Reason for choice of species targeted
The choice of the different types of fish was mainly related to the `challenge' of the fishing, as
indicated by 45% of the anglers. This challenge was mainly associated with marlin fishing. The
challenge of fishing meant mainly the actual luring and hauling in of the fish, while the thrill of
fishing had more to do with the overall excitement of being on the sea and even watching the fish
being hauled in. The dolphins were targeted because they were mainly used for consumption,
while the tuna were targeted because of the thrill of fishing. The anglers stated that the thrill or
excitement was what made them want to fish, so was the challenge of fishing for the marlin,
which allowed the anglers to develop their skills. Both these reasons were main considerations
50%
in rating their fishing
45%
experience as excellent. For
40%
those fish that were not taken
35%
for consumption, anglers
30%
reported that they released all of
25%
the marlin and tuna that they
20%
caught, although without proper
15%
surveillance, it is not possible to
10%
5%
say if these fish were actually
0%
released or not (Figure 3.5).
Challenge Consumption
Thril
of
Fishing
Figure 3.5 Reason for choice of species targeted
14
3.8 Participation in fishing tournaments
Anglers were asked if they participated in fishing tournaments, whether local or international.
Of those interviewed, 12 of the anglers said that they did participate in fishing tournaments, 6 of
which were international and the other 6 were local tournaments, most of which were organized
by the anglers club in St. Thomas. When these 12 anglers were asked if they noticed any trends
in participation in fishing tournaments, 42% of those that participated in fishing tournaments
indicated that there was an increase in participation. The other 58% stated that there was a
decrease in participation in sport fishing tournaments. This view may simply be a result of a
decrease in the number of fishing tournament on a whole, since in the BVI, the "Virgin Gorda
International Marlin Week" was the "first marlin tournament to be held in BVI waters for at least
ten years" (Mihailovich, 2001).
This information was gathered in order to get an idea of what would attract other anglers to new
tournaments in the island. This information would allow for more money coming in from angler
registration fees and longer stays on the island. Annual tournaments could mean the production
of a calendar of tournaments to have individuals or groups of anglers booking ahead of time to
go to the island for just that reason. This would help the tourist board in planning other activities
for the anglers when they reach the island. Fishing seminars, fishing `celebrities' and expos'
featuring new fishing equipment would all help to make the BVI experience one that the angler
will long remember.
3.8.1 Reasons for increased participation in sport fishing tournaments
In response to the questions about the reason for increased participation in sport fishing
tournaments, 40% of the anglers indicated that the reasons for the increased participation were
that there were more sport fishing boats. Another 40% of the anglers said that this was due to
more people becoming interested in fishing, and that more of these people with increased interest
have more disposable income (20%) in order to actually get involved in sport fishing. For those
who said that there was a decrease in the participation in sport fishing tournaments, the reasons
given included high entry fees to the tournaments, and an overall reduced interest in sport
fishing.
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
more boats increased increased
less
high entry
high fuel
no reason
interest
disposable
interest
fees
prices
given
income
Figure 3.6 Reasons for increased participation in sport fishing tournaments
15
Tournament organizers have to take these responses into consideration when putting a
tournament together. They should try to get more people involved through smaller tournaments
or even having "ride alongs" where operators and anglers would allow other anglers to take part
in the tournament. Team tournaments would also get more people involved, and increase the
level of competition. The more people become involved in one tournament, the more they will
want to get involved again the next time around.
3.8.2 Suggestions for increased participation in sport fishing tournaments
The anglers gave some suggestions as to how to raise interest, and as a result the level of
participation in sport fishing tournaments. Two of the main suggestions were more advertising
(27%) and better prizes for the winners (28%). Since very little has been done in the past to
advertise sport-fishing tournaments, this suggestion is very applicable to the BVI. This shows
the need for a greater role to be played by the Tourism Board in developing the recreational
fishing industry.
Anglers indicated that with such high entry fees for the tournaments, there should at least be
better prizes for the winners. The incentives should include more recognition for the winners
(9%), which could be accomplished by publishing their names in international magazines. 18%
of the anglers said that there are too many rules involved in some of the tournaments, which
detracted from the anglers' interest since they just wanted to go fishing without too much hassle.
On this point some steps have been taken to change this. In a recent marlin fishing tournament
in Virgin Gorda, called the "Virgin Gorda International Marlin Week," organizers deliberately
made the rules minimal "...in keeping with the loose atmosphere and easy style the tournament
is trying to create" (Mihailovich, 2001). There were some anglers (18%), who had no
suggestions for increasing the participation in sport-fishing tournaments. These anglers were
probably not serious tournament participants, who entered them just for the fun of it, and not for
any real competition (Figure 3.7).
3 0 %
2 5 %
2 0 %
1 5 %
1 0 %
5 %
0 %
s
er
ize
u
l
e
s
ing
i
on
r
e
r
e
n
s
w
r
Pr
Mo
e
r
t
is
Mo
A
tte
c
ognit
L
e
ss R
Adv
Re
No
Be
Figure 3.7 Suggestions for increased participation
16
3.9 Interviews with charter boat operators
Interviews were conducted with sport fishing charter boats on the islands. A total of ten boat
owners were interviewed. The specific type of fishing done by each owner ranging from bone
fishing to deep-sea marlin fishing with 90% of the operators involved in marlin fishing. One
reason for this could be the higher percentage of full day trips made in marlin fishing rather than
half day trips, since more money is made from full day trips than half day trips.
These charter boat owners went out on fishing trips on average 4 times per week. During high
season, which is primarily from November to February, charter boats can go out almost every
day of the week with at least 5-6 anglers going on each trip. All the operators said that they
usually have the lowest number of fishing trips during the months of August to October. During
this low season most of the owners do all the repairs on their boats, and get ready for the high
season again, but some are still able to take out a few anglers for a half day fishing trip. It should
be looked into finding other activities to attract anglers during this low season. Special prices for
trips and other incentives could allow for more trips to be made, as well as act as a good `word-
of-mouth' marketing tool.
The operators indicated that most of the anglers (70%) they take out on fishing trips during the
high season come from the United States, while the rest is a mixture of people from Europe. One
reason for this could be the relative closeness of the United States Virgin Islands and the fact that
there are more American visitors to the island than Europeans. Figures from 1997 show this
point where 194,058 visitors arrived from the United States while only 22,137 visitors arrived
from Europe (Development Planning Unit, 2001).In any case, with this knowledge, more should
be done to strengthen ties with the USVI as indicated earlier in the introduction. This could
eventually find both islands working together to corner the international market on recreational
marlin and other deep sea fishing. Instead of trying to separate both islands and claiming who
owns what, cooperation could lead to mutual benefits for both islands.
Five of the operators said that most (60%) of their customers made their reservations by e-mail,
and the rest by phone or fax. All the operators did some form of advertising in the BVI
Welcome Magazine while some had web sites, but most of their customers heard about their
fishing trips through word of mouth from friends. With greater promotions and international
marketing, especially with increased help from the tourism board, the number of recreational
fishermen arriving on the island would increase. Because not much is done to market the BVI as
a recreational fishing destination, any new initiative would help.
Operators were asked about the ratio of full day as compared to half-day trips taken during the
fishing season. All operators reported that the number of full day fishing trips as compared to
half-day fishing trips was equal during the high season, but there was a slight increase in half-
day trips during the lower seasons, due to less anglers present. On each trip, the operators said
that anglers caught an average of three (3) fish. From the operators' observation, many of the
anglers didn't want to catch a specific type of fish, but were just happy to catch something,
unlike those seasoned fishermen who came to the island in their own boats and were mainly
targeting marlin. For these non-specific fishermen, operators reported that it was the overall
experience of being on the water absorbing the sea and the aesthetics of the island that made the
anglers enjoy themselves, with no pressure of catching anything. Because of this need for more
attractions while out fishing, operators could offer other activities on board their boats (e.g. tour
17
guiding) to occupy the time of the anglers. One operator allowed the anglers to go swimming off
the side of the boat.
Operators were asked about their operating cost for one trip. Results show that an average of
US$240 was spent as operating cost for each trip, whether full day or half day. This was usually
the cost for the smaller boats, but this cost went as high as US$576 for the larger boats, due to
more fuel being consumed, with tourists paying up to US$1,300 for a whole day trip (Table 3.2).
Table 3.2 Detailed breakdown of average expenditure for items for a day trip of sport fishing (all types, not
just for marlin) by all charter boat operators. All values in US dollars
Items Expendi
For this reason, m
ture
ost charter boat
Food, drinks and refreshments
$60
Boat fuel
$400
operators preferred to take visitors
Ice $16 out on full day trips rather than half
Bait (live, cut, prepared)
$50
day. One of the operators, however,
Loss of gear
$50
reported that he discouraged deep-
Total $576.00
sea marlin fishing to his customers
because it cost too much, and in the end was not economically feasible.
Operators were asked to break down the cost for one marlin fishing trip. The values shown in
Table 3.2 are estimated averages from the responses of the operators. These operators indicated
the high cost of fuel to reach the fishing grounds as their biggest cost. Other operators, especially
the ones doing fly-fishing, did not go out far to fish since their boats are smaller and used for
more inshore fishing such as fly fishing, which target species such as bonefish, tarpon and
permit. These operators fished along the shallow flats of Beef Island. The fish caught by these
anglers are released, while other operators usually give some of their catch to the visitors, and
keep the rest, while others sell their catch to restaurants. In this case, one such operator, through
an agreement with a local restaurant, exchanged his catch for ice. This practice of selling their
catch is commonplace in other Caribbean states (Antia, 2000).
The sale of these fish was probably to help offset the cost of fishing, but it is not known how
much of these sales contribute to their earnings. Without there being any strict license
enforcement to make the distinction between who can sell fish and who can not, there will be
problems and some conflict between commercial fishermen and recreational fishermen.
Although most operators did not see any huge conflict between themselves and the commercial
fishermen, they did show some instances when they cooperated with them. This included calling
the commercial fishermen when they see schools of fish that they are not targeting, or helping
them out if they had problems with their boats.
Operators were also asked to give some estimates of the cost of items they had to get in order to
start their business and to maintain that business for one year. The figures shown in Table 3.3 are
averages of estimates from all the charter boat operators interviewed. This information was
helpful in showing potential charter boat operators what they would have to come up with if they
wanted to start their own business.
With regards to the operators supporting the tools for fisheries management, half of the operators
interviewed said that they would strongly support a minimum size limit by releasing the fish
below a certain size. Two of the operators said that they would only support this measure if it
were for billfish. These operators were those who would sell some of their catch to local
18
restaurants and hotels, meaning that they would still want to sell the rest of their catch that was
not billfish.
When asked about operators' willingness to support bag limits, most of the operators (70%) said
that they were willing to support being able to catch only a certain number of fish per day, but
the majority (80%) of them said that there would have to be some form of stock assessment first
to see how the fish stocks are doing, so that they would be able to make informed decisions on
giving their full support.
They contend that this bag limit was put into effect without sufficient data and good science.
For this reason, it is important for the decision makers to have good consultation with the
anglers. It is also important that the anglers themselves become a strong lobbying group to have
some voice in government.
Operators were asked about their support for the other management tools, which included fishing
access restrictions and not being able to retain certain kinds of fish. Similar to the answer to
their support of the bag limit, the operators said that they would need some more information
about how these tools will affect them, which was expected since they have become accustomed
to fishing without much regulation.
Table 3.3 Some detailed costs of starting and maintaining a sport fishing business for one year. All values in
US dollars.
Expenditures Cost
This lack of regulation knowledge
(US$)
Fishing equipment
30-50ft Sport Fishing Boat
150,000
brings to mind the need for
Rods, reels, poles (6 rods)
3,300
education and outreach programs to
Artificial lures, flies, baits
2,000
show the operators why these
Hooks, sinkers, swivels etc.
250
management tools are needed. With
Gaff hooks
300
such a system of education in place,
Depth finders, fish finders and other
electronic fishing devices
10,000
the anglers did say however, that
Sub-total 155,8
they would support th
50
ese tools if it
Other expenditures
meant making sure sport fishing is
Fishing license fees
200
around for years to come for the
Docking at the marina
60,000
enjoyment of future generations.
Electricity and water
240
General maintenance, servicing and
3.10 Interviews with local
replacing parts, hauling out of the water,
fishermen
painting, bottom and import duties on
35,000
goods and freight
3,000
In order for there to be any kind of
Advertising (website/magazine)
500
development in the sport fishing
Other purchases
industry, there has to be some kind
Sub-total 98,940
Total 254,790
of interest and willingness on the
part of the local fishermen to
participate. There could be potential in terms of the abundance of fish in the vast fishing area,
and the attraction of tourists, but if the local people are not able to get into the industry, there will
not be any real development or significant increase in the contributions made by the sport fishing
industry.
To get information on the willingness of the local fishermen to get into recreational fishing, non-
formal interviews with twenty local commercial fishermen were carried out at random. Results
from interviews showed that they all had some interest in getting into the sport fishing industry,
19
but their main concern was the cost of starting up the business and the other costs involved
including the daily running of the business. The other concerns included the fact that they didn't
want to have to go out so far to go fishing, when they could just go fishing inshore and catch a
lot of fish. The amount of time spent on the sea would be longer since most commercial
fishermen only pull up their fish traps once a day and spend the rest of the day on land. Some of
them have other business like restaurants to take care of, while others make or mend broken fish
traps. In many cases in sport fishing, the fishermen would have to be out all day on the sea with
the tourists.
To get an idea of the costs involved in starting and maintaining a sport fishing business,
information was gathered from the charter boat owners and operators who are already in
operation. The results are listed in Table 3.3.
The figures shown in the Table 3.3 represent the cost of operating the business for one year.
These figures, however, do not include repayment of bank loans that, at 10% interest rate can
drive this amount a lot higher. Also, the cost of insurance is usually 2 ½ -3% of the value of the
boat per year, including liability for the passengers on the boat. When all of this is added
together, for most fishermen, the total can be staggering, and chase away any possible persons
interest in getting started as a charter boat sport fisherman. By looking at this breakdown of the
costs involved in operating a large 30-50ft boat, one of the charter boat operators went as far as
saying that he is not making any kind of `real' money from sport fishing. Until there is some
kind of reduction in the cost of fuel or increase in price of the fishing trip, he would not be able
to continue sport fishing for a living.
3.10.1 Other financial considerations
In the BVI, most persons wanting to start his or her own business would go to the Development
bank. Speaking with a representative of the bank, information was gathered on how easy it is for
someone to get a loan from the bank, what someone would need to have, or be able to show in
order to get a loan. The representative stated that although sport fishing is similar to regular
commercial fishing, the bank would not consider `crossing over' from one to the next a `natural
transition.' This means that a fisherman would not just be able to get a loan to `expand' into
sport fishing, but would have to go through a whole separate process because it would be seen as
a new venture. For this reason, the person would have to give a proposal of what he wants to do,
including a statement of his personal affairs, his projections for future operations, marketing
strategy etc. The person would have to come up with at least one third (1/3) of the total cost of
starting the business, along with evidence to support this. This would include at least two
months of working capital to cover the initial months of operation. This amount does not
necessarily have to be in cash, but could be the value of assets already owned, as well as security
to be offered along with the proposed method of payment.
There is some incentive to get fishermen into the sport fishing industry because it is possible for
fishermen to get a lower interest rate from the bank, from 12% to 10% interest, as long as they
have a letter from the fisheries department stating that they are registered fishermen. It was
stated, however, that their records show that long lining and sport fishing ventures have not been
too successful in the past, making them think twice about giving loans for that reason.
This is one of the major deterrents from local fishermen getting into the industry. Getting into the
sport fishing industry thus seems to be a very expensive and risky business. The potential is
there to attract tourists, but there has to be some kind of aid to the fishermen just to get started.
20
The risks involved should be thoroughly investigated before any potential operator gets into the
industry. What they have to take into serious consideration are the other factors once they begin.
One of the major considerations is the amount of money lost due to days lost from not being able
to go out, whether it is because of bad weather or no one to take out. Work lost is money not
being made, which causes bills to accumulate. This loss of work and time can be extended due to
hurricanes or other factors.
In the end, while the BVI has the resources to attract the tourist, the overall problem is not the
lack of interest in the recreational industry; it is the inability of the local fishermen to actually get
started. Their needs and concerns would first have to be dealt with before moving further.
3.11 Economic impact of recreational fishing on the BVI economy
Operators and anglers were asked to estimate the total cost for an angler to go on a one day
fishing trip beginning from the time they leave the airport until they return to the airport the next
day (Table 3.4). This was done because "by looking at the amount of tourist expenditure in a
country, it is possible to keep track of the economic effects of tourism on that country's
economy" (Srivastava, 2000). By getting an idea of how much each tourist spends on the island,
Government can better budget its spending and forecast its revenues. For this report, tourism
expenditure is the "total consumption expenditure made by a visitor or on behalf of a visitor for
and during his/her trip and stay at a destination" (Srivastava, 2000).
3.11.1 Cost per person for a one day trip to the islands for recreational fishing
Table 3.4 Cost per person for a one day trip to the islands for recreational fishing. Figures obtained from
interviews operators and anglers.
Recreational fishing costs
US$
From these figures we can see that in one
Transportation to and from airport
80.00
day, one recreational fisherman can spend
Restaurant/one day
70.00
Hotel (one night in low season)
90.00
more than $1,600 in the island just for one
Souvenirs 80.0
fishing trip. This does not include other
0
Cost for marlin fishing trip
1300.00
items bought on the island such as
Total 1620.00
sunscreen, and the tips given at restaurants
and hotels. The US $1,300 for the fishing trip represents the highest charge for a trip as reported
by the charter boat operators. This was used in order to get an idea of the most amount of money
that can be made by the charter boat operators in one day. The lowest charge was US $950 for a
day trip, but again, these charges depended on the type of fishing, the number of anglers and the
area they went fishing in. The number of anglers is a factor since some charter boat owners gave
special discounts for large groups. By expanding these numbers you can get a real picture of the
kind of money being gained by the island from recreational fishing. Using the average of 5
anglers being taken on a trip for a day by one boat operator, the amount totals up to $2,900, with
the money being spread over a cross section of the businesses on the island. This figure comes
from the fact that all five anglers shared the US$1,300 for the fishing trip. The other charges
would be the same for each angler. So each angler would have to pay for his own food at the
restaurant, his own bus ride from the airport, and his own souvenirs. These charges without the
cost of the trip would come up to US$1,600. Dividing the cost of the trip among the five of
them, each angler would have to come up with another US$260. Using an average of 5 trips per
week, the 5 anglers spend a total of US$14,500. If there continues to be 5 anglers coming to the
island every day for the month, this would come up to US$58000, and for the whole eight -
month season, when extrapolated, this US$14,500 reaches a total of $464,000 using only one
21
charter boat operator. This money ends up reaching the gas stations, bait and tackle shops, ice
factory, and into the Government purse in the form of duties and other taxes. It should be
remembered that these figures are only for one charter boat operator. Assuming that all ten of
the charter boat operators made the same number of trips with the same number of anglers on
each trip, the angler expenditure would reach an impressive total of US$4,640,000 of direct
injection of `new' money into the island's economy. This total is only for full-day fishing trips
during the high season. For the purposes of this research, half-day trips were not dealt with since
most half day charters were done during the low season. When considered however, half-day
charters would only increase this total for the entire year.
Although looking at the total expenditure of the visiting anglers helps one to understand the level
of economic impact on the tourism industry, "...they are insufficient measures of the value of
recreational fishing" (Thailing and Ditton, 2000). Additional impacts of the expenditure made
by tourist anglers impact the local economy by bringing in new money into the region which in
turn increases the local economic base and produces further direct, indirect and induced impacts"
(Thailing and Ditton, 2000). This can be seen in the jobs created, sales, wages, taxes and salaries
(Gunderson and Kreag, 2000). In the BVI, all these benefits could be realized if the industry
were developed.
The exchange of dollars for goods and services from visitors to the different establishments on
the island allows these owners to purchase other goods and services within the local economy.
This is the `Multiplier Effect.' This concept "Indicates how many times the injection of original
spending circulates through a local economy (Choi, 2001), and creates additional economic
activity (Gunderson and Kreag, 2000). This spending and re-spending of the money continues
until all of the money brought into the country has left the national economy (Ditton and Grimes,
1995).
The tourism income multiplier for the BVI of .58 (Choi, 2001) was used to calculate the indirect
and induced economic impact of the anglers expenses. This value implies that every dollar spent
by the anglers results in US $.58 in economic impact before the money leaves the country
(Ditton and Grimes, 1995). Therefore, the total expenditure of the anglers for one fishing
season of US $4,640,000, had an economic impact of US$2,691,200 on the BVI economy. One
can only expect this amount to increase with increased angler visits, more operators in the
industry as well as increased advertising to target markets.
4 RECOMMENDATIONS
Many of the visitors who go to St. Thomas for sport fishing do not realize that it is actually the
BVI waters that they are fishing in. Their sport-fishing industry generates an estimated US$50-
$70 million dollars annually (Mihailovich, 2001). In the BVI, this number is estimated to be
more than US$4 million. What has to happen now is more effort being put into attracting these
tourists from St. Thomas to the BVI. This would increase their tourist arrivals, which will
translate into thousands of new jobs from new private sector initiatives. The creation of stores
like bait shops, tackle shops and other stores to cater to the needs of the sport fishermen will all
create new jobs for many people.
The increase in visitors will mean more money being directly paid to government in the form of
income and business taxes, as well as licensing fees. This direct contribution to government
could total in the hundreds of thousands. This multiplier effect would cause an increase in
spending within the island for other local products, and possibly encourage more businesses to
22
start up. But in order for local fishermen to get involved, they have to first have the capital to do
so. The constraints of these fishermen have to be dealt with first and foremost before the
industry can go anywhere, especially considering the huge price of a new fishing boat for deep
sea fishing.
The recommendations given by the sport fishing operators were similar for all interviewed. The
major constraint faced by these operators was the high price of fuel. They all recommended
some form of duty free exemption or lowering of the price of fuel, especially for large fishing
tournaments. Secondly, they stated that the price of ice and bait are usually high costs to them.
It would help them and encourage other fishermen to get into the industry by making it easier for
them to get these products. Looking into creating a Fisheries Ice Factory, to sell ice to the
fishermen was one recommendation to alleviate the problem of ice availability and cost. The
fishermen currently buy most of their ice from the local supermarket. The money made from the
creation of this ice factory would go toward future projects of the fisheries department.
It was recommended that there be better facilities at the marinas to accommodate these sport
fishing boats. Marinas now have insufficient facilities for these boats and would have to upgrade
before more boats could be attracted to the island. This brings to mind the cost of bringing in a
new sport fishing boat in terms of duties, which would drive their cost up dramatically.
Interviews with some of the anglers who owned their own boats showed that they had to go
through too much government "red tape" to get a license in order to go fishing. This took too
much time and was sometimes frustrating which took away from their interest in going fishing
here. They showed how easy it was to get a license in St. Thomas, where they could get their
license over the internet, and not even have to step foot into the Fisheries Department there. It
was recommended that something be done to help stream line this process. The easier it is to get
their license, the faster they would be able to go fishing.
To get as much advertising as possible, it is recommended that the operators should work closely
with hotels to produce package deals for the tourists. This would then allow for the production
of a fishing tournament schedule which would give the tournament anglers times to look forward
to by planning out the year. What is needed in terms of advertising is to find a solution to the
problem of the US Virgin Islands advertising their sport fishing industry using BVI waters,
without anything being paid to the BVI government for this privilege.
The BVI tourist board would also have to do a lot more to advertise to those markets in the
United States through magazines like the "Marlin magazine." This kind of exposure would go
far in attracting more tourists to the island.
What is recommended, however, is that more research on the topic be done in the future. The
open-access nature of high seas fisheries creates a particularly difficult situation with respect to
the control of fishing capacity. Excess capacity means that fleets are larger than they need to be
to catch and land. There has to be some kind of idea as to the optimum number of sport fishing
licenses given out first before there is any influx of boats to the island.
To make sure that fisheries are harvested at an economically and biologically sustainable level,
fisheries managers must have information about the catch, effort, and the harvesters, including
recreational anglers. They need to know
the numbers and weight of fish harvested recreationally,
the size of the catch,
23
the numbers of people participating,
and the total number of trips that they make (Effort).
From the information gathered, managers and policy makers would be able to establish
regulations to control fishing mortality and allow managers to allocate fishery resources among
competing user groups, and assess the impacts of regulations on anglers and the sport fishing
industry.
This is the real need for fisheries management. The development of timely and reliable fisheries
information and statistical data as well as the setting up of a regional network; research and
management considerations especially for shared or transboundary fish stocks; the development
of methodologies for stock assessments. Without proper information from scientific research, it
will be difficult to draft the laws to regulate the industry.
After sufficient information has been gathered, there is a need for the formation of a recreational
fishing policy. In a statement by the President of the United States on the 7th of June 1995, he
outlined some major objectives that should be included in a recreational fishing policy document,
which began by remembering that the quality of fishing is important, requiring a wide range of
fishing opportunities. The "recreational fishing experience" has to include more than just the
chance to catch a fish. Fresh air, clean water and beautiful scenery are cherished parts of the
enjoyment and satisfaction of this outdoor experience.
Although integrated planning and institutional coordination are frequently listed as the primary
requirements for effective coastal management, in practice, both have proved difficult to achieve
and both entail significant costs. These difficulties come from bureaucratic structures and
procedures of government agencies; the complexity of the scientific, technical and economic
issues involved; and the potentially large number of informed decisions that need to be taken.
Despite these drawbacks, the policy should look into the possibility of creating a Fisheries
Council to include the different sectors of the fishing industry, with representatives from each.
This council, similar to the Caribbean Fisheries council for the US Virgin island an Puerto Rico,
would look at issues facing the fishing industry, and would allow for easier dissemination of
information which will go to the sectors of the industry represented at the council.
Other research should investigate how fisheries health and regulatory changes will impact the
recreational fishing industry. How will the development of the industry with more boats and
tourists affect the fish stock and the water quality and the need for increased surveillance and
patrols of the BVI waters to prevent over fishing by foreign vessels? This should include looking
into the formation of an Environmental Enforcement Agency, similar to the one in St. Thomas.
Many marine recreational anglers think they don't have much impact on the resource because
they take only a few fish, but when they all take a few fish it adds up. There is also the tendency
for people to believe that the oceans are infinite, which they are not. In fact, in some industries
in the world, quite a few fisheries recreational anglers harvest as much or more fish than
commercial fishermen.
Getting the public involved in management is essential. Although the brunt of overall
responsibility lies with the Government for managing the fisheries resources, all users of the
resources have some responsibility for the conservation and wise use of the fishery. There are
direct beneficiaries from a healthy recreational fishery. These include the recreational fishers
themselves as well as those businesses that cater to the needs of these fishermen. Their
24
responsibility extends not only to participating in the protection of the resources but should also
extend to assuming part of the cost of maintaining the privileges they enjoy.
A recreational policy establishes the importance of marine recreational fisheries and encourages
this public participation in the protection, conservation and improvement of the fisheries
resources. The challenge facing the Government, recreational fishing community and other
interests is to work together to realize the potential of the marine recreational fisheries. The
continuation and improvement of these recreational fisheries is of concern to anglers, related
businesses, and the managers of the resources. The improvement of the fisheries opportunities
are important to what the BVI offers to its citizens and visitors - a clean, healthy, picturesque and
outdoor lifestyle based on renewable resources. Protecting these fish and their habitats,
promoting responsible use of the resources and maintaining and developing recreational
opportunities makes sense for us and for future generations.
In order to conserve, restore, and enhance these aquatic systems to provide for increased
recreational fishing opportunities those in management have to find out how to improve the
quantity, function, sustainable productivity, and distribution of the aquatic resources for
increased recreational fishing opportunities. To do this, there has to be a continual developing
and encouraging of partnerships between governments and the private sector to advance resource
conservation and enhance recreational fishing opportunities. However, as other economic sectors
expand in the coastal zone, the relative economic importance of fisheries declines. This can be
seen in the BVI as the financial services sector continues to contribute millions to the country's
GDP, while the contribution from fisheries, although increasing slightly in past years, is still
relatively insignificant. This can further weaken the influence of the fisheries agencies in
determining policy.
In the end, there is so much more to be done. More studies on the fisheries itself have to be done
before any real development can be realized, as agreed on by Steinback and O'Neil (1999) who
reported that "Development of recreational management measures to achieve conservation goals
require a fair amount of social and economic information." If not, problems could occur in the
near future that could have lasting effects for years to come, taking away all the possibilities for
any real fisheries management.
4.1 Recommendations towards future research
· The timing of the survey should be done during the height of tourist season, which is during
the December to February months. This would allow a larger sample size and probably from
more diverse places of the world.
· The interviews should be conducted with the operators during slow business periods of the
day. This would make the answers more thorough and more accurate. To do this requires
proper advance planning to get the list of the operators to be used in the sample, and to make
an interview schedule.
· As was the case in this project, researchers should base future work on questionnaires already
developed to save time and costs.
4.2 Other issues
In the survey, several issues and opportunities related to content were identified. These may be
worth including in future survey efforts:
25
· How fisheries health and regulatory changes will impact the recreational fishing industry.
· How will the development of the industry with more boats and tourists affect the fish stock
and the water quality.
· The need for increased surveillance and patrols of the BVI waters to prevent over fishing by
foreign vessels. This should include looking into the formation of an Environmental
Enforcement Agency, similar to the one in St. Thomas.
· Looking into the possibility of creating a Fisheries Council to include the different sectors of
the fishing industry, with representatives from each. This council would look at issues facing
the fishing industry, and would allow for easier dissemination of information to the different
sectors.
· Looking into creating a Fisheries Ice Factory, to sell ice to the fishermen. One of the main
concerns by the fishermen was the high cost they pay for ice from the supermarket. The
money made from this venture would go toward future projects of the fisheries department.
· The information gathered from the interviews will help the Fisheries Department with their
decision making, and the creation of regulations for the industry.
5 CONCLUSION
Marine tourism has become a significant use of ocean and coastal space and resources, which
provide a strong attraction for visitors. In the British Virgin Islands, with its abundance of
fisheries resources, there is tremendous potential for the development of a local sport fishing
industry. The economic impact on the economy of the BVI from the development of a
recreational fishing industry totals more than U.S$4 million.
An industry such a this one would allow for a more sustainable use of the fish through catch and
release fishing techniques, other than just taking these fish to be sold and eaten. With tourism,
visitors would be able to appreciate the natural resources of the sea. The problem in developing
a local sport fishing industry is that the local fishermen do not have the kind of capital to start
their own charter boat business. This, along with other constraints hinders their involvement and
without some kind of government help, will continue to do so. What can be done, however, is to
market the product to those anglers in the United States who already have their boats and have
the resources to come here to fish. With time, enough money should be made to allow other
operators to get involved in the industry.
It can be seen from the interviews carried out with these anglers from other countries that the
fishing on and around this island is some of the best in the world. Using the information
gathered from the questionnaire, the tourism department could come up with ways to target these
anglers and market this product to them. With the creation of a real recreational fishing policy, it
would be easier for the Fisheries Department to control the way in which humans enjoy the
marine environment. This has to be managed and controlled in an all inclusive and integrated
fashion, working together with all government departments as well as the private sector in order
to make this fishing sector sustainable. The usual worry about development and the environment
need not exist at odds with the natural environment. Once everything is in place and this
inclusive and integrated movement of agencies and departments begins and continues to make a
dedicated effort towards sustainably utilizing the fisheries resources, the long term goal of
economic and environmental benefits will be realized. As stated by Ishmael (1991),
"Development which can meet economic and social needs will of necessity require...of critical
26
importance, the need to strengthen and build institutional capability...to ensure that policies and
plans can be managed, and implemented...to ensure that such capabilities are sustainable over
the long term."
The advantages of education are many and include increased public awareness, greater
opportunities for research, less need for enforcement and the establishment of open channels of
communication with those involved with the industry. Getting everyone involved in the decision
making process will make enforcement of the laws easier through self-policing.
In the end, information and involvement is the key. The more information gathered, the easier it
will be to manage the recreational fishing industry. More research is needed, not only on the
environmental effects of developing the recreational industry, but also the social impacts.
Studies on fish behaviour and stock assessments are also important to know what laws are to be
in place to get optimal use of the fishery, with the least amount of impact. Without proper
surveillance and enforcement of the laws, there will continue to be problems within the industry
from foreign boats. Without this constant `eye' on the industry, sport fishing may turn into
commercial fishing if those anglers do not practice catch and release fishing.
The more people are involved, the more interest put on the industry by government, the higher
the possibility for development to occur. The more involved the fishermen are in shaping the
industry, the less the need for enforcement, and sustainability would be achieved.
27
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Caangelosi, Allegra, 2001. Economic valuation of environmental benefits.
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7 APPENDIX 1: RECREATIONAL FISHERMEN QUESTIONNAIRE
The Conservation and Fisheries Department B.V.I, along with the Natural Resource
Management Program of the University of the West Indies is conducting a study on sport/game
fishing in the B.V.I. The objective of the study is to use the information gathered for possible
development of the industry, better management as well as for the planning for sustainable
fisheries through interviews about the problems facing the industry and recommendations on
what is needed to make the industry develop.
1. What is your age? ________
2. Sex, Ethnic Appearance________________
3. Where are you from? _____________________
4. Who introduced you to fishing? ____________________
5. What groups of people do you usually fish with? a) by yourself b)friends c) family
d) friends and family together e) other
6. How did you first hear about sport fishing in the B.V.I? _______________
7. Comparing sport fishing in other countries you have fished, how would you rate your fishing
experience in the B.V.I? ________________
QUESTIONS ON FISHING TRIPS (for anglers with their own boat)
8. On average, how often do you go out fishing? ______________
9. What is the average total time of a regular fishing trip? ____________hrs.
10. What is the average total catch per trip? ________________fish.
11. What is the average operating cost per trip? $_______________.
12. Which specie of fish do you target when fishing? ___________________.
13. Why is this your main target? ________________
QUESTIONS ON SPORT FISHING TOURNAMENTS
14. Do you take part in sport fishing tournaments? ______________.
15. What type of tournaments do you usually take part in? a)international b)regional
c) local deep sea d) other _________.
16. From your personal observation, have you noticed any trends in the level of
participation in the sport fishing tournaments? ___________.
17. What do you think has contributed to this level of participation?
18. Do you have any suggestions on ways in which participation could be improved?
________________
SUGGESTIONS ON DEVELOPMENT OF THE INDUSTRY
19. Do you have any suggestions on what is needed for the sport fishing industry on a whole to
be improved?
___________________________________________________________________________
20. What do you think are some of the constraints facing the development of the
industry?___________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________.
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8 APPENDIX 2: CHARTER BOAT OPERATOR QUESTIONNAIRE
The Conservation and Fisheries Department B.V.I, along with the Natural Resource
Management Program of the University of the West Indies is conducting a study on sport/game
fishing in the B.V.I. The objective of the study is to use the information gathered for possible
development of the industry, better management as well as for the planning for sustainable
fisheries through interviews about the problems facing the industry and recommendations on
what is needed to make the industry develop.
1. What type of fishing charters do you usually take out? a). deep sea b). inshore
___________
2. What is the average number of times do you go out fishing in a week? ________
3. During which months of the year do you most often spend doing full day charters?_____
4. During which months of the year do you most often spend doing half day charters? ________
5. On an average, how many anglers do you take on a fishing charter?_________
6. Which part of the world do most of you customers come from? _________
7. Through what medium do you often us to promote your business? ____________
· Fishing magazine
· Newspapers
· Internet
· Brochures
· Other _______
8. What is the ratio of full day as compared to half-day trips taken during the fishing season?
______________
9. What is the average number of fish caught per trip? ___________
10. What is you average operating cost for one full day trip? $_______________
11. What happens to the fish that is caught? __________
12. In what ways do you know of any kind of co-operation or friction between commercial and
recreational fishermen?
13. Could you indicate whether you support or oppose the use of these management tools?
· Release fish below a certain size/ weight _______
· Being able to keep only a certain number of fish caught per day (bag limit) _______
· Fishing access restrictions in certain coastal areas ____________
· Not being able to retain certain kinds of species _____________
SUGGESTIONS ON DEVELOPMENT OF THE INDUSTRY
14. Do you have any suggestions on what is needed for the sport fishing industry on a whole to
be improved?
___________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________.
15. What do you think are some of the constraints facing the development of the
industry?___________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________.
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