About

Outside of Native American populations, subsistence fishing, as opposed to recreational or commercial fishing, has been severely understudied, particularly in urban areas. Yet, subsistence fishers are a potentially important component of urban marine and freshwater socioecological systems, exerting pressure on fisheries resources and deriving important nutritional and sociocultural value from the system. At the same time, fishers may be vulnerable to water quality and contamination concerns. Our research is studying the extent and magnitude of subsistence fishing in the Tampa Bay Area and the resources available to this community (physical, ecological, informational, and nutritional). The purpose of the project is to improve the exchange of information between relevant management organizations, other recreational users of Tampa Bay, and the subsistence fishing community on issues such as conservation strategies, water quality, infrastructural and safety concerns at access points, and user conflicts around the region.