Harold L. Schramm, Jr., Mississippi Cooperative Fish and
Wildlife Research Unit, Mail Stop 9691, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762; Voice
601-325-7495; FAX 601-325-8726;
E-Mail hschramm@cfr.msstate.edu
Urban fisheries programs provide fishing opportunities for
mobility-impaired anglers, provide healthful recreation, often increase the value of
aquatic resources and improve the quality of life in towns and cities, and recruit new
anglers. Unfortunately, the angler-recruitment function of urban fisheries has not been
evaluated. Most of the benefits gained from urban fisheries accrue to the municipality,
yet urban fisheries are usually designed, managed, and funded by state fisheries agencies.
Most successful programs rely heavily on stocking catchable- size fish. Licensed (current)
anglers rank urban fisheries as low priority management activities and would allocate only
a few cents of each license dollar to urban fisheries management. Although the benefits of
urban fisheries are many, expansion of urban fisheries programs can substantially drain
already-limited staff time, resource management funds, and hatchery production if
fisheries management agencies control the programs. I recommend that many urban fisheries
programs should be funded, staffed, and managed by municipal government with technical
assistance provided by fisheries management agencies and propose a model for effective and
enduring urban fisheries programs.
