Using Agency Internet Websites to Obtain Public Input

Smith, T.O. and K. Kurzawski, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Inland Fisheries Division, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, Texas 78744

As part of strategic planning, the Inland Fisheries Division of Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) solicited public input on the status of fishing in Texas. The popularity of our Internet website provided an opportunity to quickly design, implement, and analyze an inexpensive method of obtaining public input from visitors to our website. The input was in addition to public meetings, and written and verbal correspondence normally used to incorporate stakeholder preferences into the strategic planning process. The public input survey contained questions asking for opinions on the future of freshwater fishing in Texas. Input was received between May 18 and June 18, 1999. A total of 314 responses were received. Most (98%) respondents were male, licensed Texas anglers (99%) with a median age of 40 years. Stocking fish was reported by 44% of respondents as an action that TPW Inland Fisheries could take to ensure excellent fishing in the future. The most frequent response for improving fishing (34%) was regulating personal watercraft. The number of available fishing sites was most frequently reported (43%) by respondents as the thing they liked about fishing in Texas. Personal watercraft was mentioned most frequently (30%) by respondents as something they disliked about fishing in Texas. Agency websites offer fisheries managers another tool for obtaining public input. This tool provided an inexpensive, real-time snapshot of public preferences. In the future, websites may also be used to conduct angler surveys, but emphasis should first be placed on understanding the characteristics of website users and the associated biases.

Copyright © 1999
Texas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society
Last modified: 03/03/04 04:15:38 PM