FWC wants to hear from anglers about saltwater fishing in Florida

7/17/2012

FWC wants to hear from anglers about saltwater fishing in Florida



If you go saltwater fishing in this state, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission (FWC) researchers want to learn about your experiences and opinions
through the new online Florida Saltwater Fishing Panel. Anyone with a valid Florida
saltwater fishing license or Persons with Disabilities Resident Hunting and Fishing
License, as well as exempt residents age 65 and older, can sign up to take part in
the panel, which begins this summer.

Registered panel members will be asked to complete one Web-based survey per month
for a one-year period. The surveys will each take approximately 10-15 minutes to
complete. While most of each survey will focus on the angler's last saltwater
fishing trip in Florida during the previous month, surveys may also include
questions about current or proposed fishing regulations, licenses, conservation of
fish stocks and management effectiveness.

FWC researchers will use survey data to estimate the economic impact and value of
saltwater fishing in Florida, to assess the importance of fish hatcheries, to
estimate fishing effort and catch rates and to describe angler behavior.

The FWC will take information gathered from panelists into consideration as part of
management and policy-making decisions.

Panel members will receive a coupon from West Marine for each monthly survey they
complete. Participants will also have the opportunity to review summary results from
the monthly surveys.

More than 200,000 anglers who provided their email addresses when they purchased
their licenses have already received emails asking them to register for the panel.
Those licensed anglers who have not received an email can sign up at
www.fwcsaltwaterfishingpanel.com<http://www.fwcsaltwaterfishingpanel.com>, by
clicking "Register for the Panel." Interested anglers must register by Aug. 20 to
receive the September survey. However, new members will be accepted throughout the
duration of the panel's operation.

As the panel is fully Web-based, a panel member must have Internet access and a
current email address.