Recreational fisheries (non-commercial fishing activities) are complex and adaptive systems shaped by ongoing interactions between people and the natural environment. Multiple CASC authors and other experts from a range of social-science disciplines contributed to a new open access book that explores how social-ecological science can be integrated into the management of these interconnected systems. 
 

The book, titled Understanding Recreational Fishers: Disciplinary and Interdisciplinary Approaches for Fisheries Management, focuses on the human side of fisheries management, exploring how people, fish, and ecosystems interact in recreational fishing. The authors examine how different fields understand fishers’ behavior, emphasize engaging directly with fishing communities, and encourage interdisciplinary approaches and collaboration. The book, which is freely available to anyone, offers a valuable resource for practitioners and students looking to integrate both social and ecological science to support more sustainable fisheries management. 
 

National CASC Research Fish Biologist Abigail Lynch and Kevin Pope, Acting Chief of the USGS Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, were two of the book's editors. Other CASC contributors include Midwest CASC Research Fish Biologist Holly Embke and Nick Sievert, currently with the Missouri Department of Conservation and previously with the National CASC. CASC authors contributed to the following chapters: 
 

Complexity and Integration of Recreational Fisheries 
From fulfilling the needs of fishers to licensing revenue and fish conservation, managing fisheries often requires meeting the objectives of different social, economic, and ecological priorities. This chapter discusses how embracing a social-ecological-system perspective with interdisciplinary approaches can ultimately improve recreational fisheries science and management. Read the chapter>> 
 

Data Standardization and Management to Facilitate Large-Scale and Interdisciplinary Approaches Access 
Understanding fisher behavior and needs requires standardizing recreational fisher and fisheries data. Currently, methods for collecting, analyzing, and storing data can vary dramatically, which has implications for how the data are used in practice. Here, the authors document the benefits of standardizing this process and explore best practices for how to format, store, and transmit recreational fisher data. Read the chapter>> 
 

Best Practices for Understanding Recreational Fishers 
In this final chapter, the authors outline best practices for understanding recreational fishers as an integral part of the recreational fishery system. They especially emphasize building interdisciplinarity into research and management as a means of more fully understanding the complete social-ecological system. Read the chapter>>