When Ernest Hemingway wrote “The Old Man and the Sea,” the legendary writer described a modern version of an ancient contest — man versus fish, the hunter and the hunted, played out amid the romantic backdrop of the open seas.
A University of Massachusetts Amherst researcher’s study suggests modern technology is tipping the scales to the recreational angler — and posing challenges to fish management and policy making.
“If science can’t keep up in terms of evaluating the impacts of technological innovation to help inform management and policy, it can be really detrimental to the fish,” said Andy Danylchuk. “That may ultimately mean fewer fish, and a worse fishing experience for anglers.”
Danylchuk cites aerial drones, social media scouting reports and advances in hook design as new advantages to fishermen who use them. His report comes as spring fishing season will send millions of North American anglers to waterways across North America.
At issue is more than just whether new technologies make fishing less of a fair fight. The report addresses a profound conservation issue often overlooked by environmentalists who focus on the treatment of pets, farm animals and other mammals.
“There are still so many unknowns,” said Danylchuk, a UMass professor of fish conservation who says the effect of technology on fish ecosystems should not be taken lightly.
Danylchuk is not anti-fishing. He’s not even anti-technology in the most literal sense.
His study points to the need for policy makers to take a futuristic view, both for the benefit of ecosystems that cannot be replicated and for future generations of fishermen. Without planning, future sportsmen may be denied the positive experiences enjoyed by today’s fishermen, he said.
“Recreational anglers have always been a strong voice for conservation. If something changes and they are no longer catching fish, they’re one of the first stakeholder groups to raise the alarm about possible environmental harms,” he said.
“It turns out that what’s good for the fishing community is also good for the fish. More and healthier fish mean a more enjoyable, successful fishing experience.”
Danylchuk says responsibility for the impact of improved technology falls largely on the research and management community. He says they must pay greater attention to the effects of high-tech fishing equipment.
Danylchuk has co-authored a report on the subject with Steven Cooke, professor of fish ecology in the biology department at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, who agrees.
“An important message here is that resource management agencies need to share their experiences and that scientists should more intensively study the impact of innovations in recreational fishing,” Danylchuk and Cooke said in their report.
Much of today’s technology will never be seen on reruns of “The American Sportsman,” which brought national television exposure to fishing (and hunting) from 1965-86. Even the early 2000s revival of the series did not feature current gadgets such as battery-powered, artificial lures which wriggle like minnows and have a fish-attracting scent.
The days of Roscoe V. “Gadabout” Gaddis, a celebrity fishing name who died in 1986, did not predict underwater cameras and fish finders that help locate and observe potential prey. In recent years, social media scouting reports have narrowed where fish might be found.
Even the hooks are better, especially in catching and holding bigger fish. And while the sport of fishing flies under the popular radar of media coverage, Danylchuk cites it as the second most popular leisure activity in North America, falling just behind gardening.
Danylchuk’s interest, and his concern, is shared by others. Fishing advocates rarely face the same public scrutiny of environmental concerns and “fair sport” that hunters do, but Danylchuk says they are sensitive to potentially damaging their sport.
The speed of advancements nonetheless challenges the ability to gauge their effects, as it does in many technology-driven aspects of modern life.
“From improvements in finding and catching fish, to emulating their natural prey and accessing previously inaccessible waters, to anglers sharing their exploits with others, technology is completely changing all aspects of recreational fishing,” Cooke said.
The Link LonkMay 27, 2021 at 01:39AM
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UMass researcher says new fishing technology challenges conservationists - masslive.com
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