Public Opinion On Fish And Wildlife Management Issues
Sponsored by the Northeast Conservation Information and Education Association, this 2003 survey asked Maine residents about their outdoor activities, wildlife values their opinion on fish and wildlife management issues and their perception of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. In general, a larger proportion of survey respondents engaged in outdoor observation activities, although 36% engaged in freshwater fishing, 15% in saltwater fishing, 19% in hunting, and 1% in trapping.
Participation in Outdoor Activities: The most popular outdoor activities among Maine residents were:
- Watching wildlife near home (68%)
- Watching wildlife more than 1 mile away from home (55%)
- Birdwatching (54%)
- Visiting state or national park (49%)
Less popular activities include:
- Freshwater fishing (36%)
- Saltwater fishing (15%)
- Hunting (19%)
- Trapping (1%)
Some 38% of respondents consider themselves to be anglers/fishermen, while 23% consider themselves to be hunters. Slightly less than one-third (32%) of respondents had attended an an educational program related to fish and wildlife.
Agency Perceived to be Responsible for Fish and Wildlife & Ratings of ME Dept of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife: A small 21% of Maine residents named the agency responsible for fish and wildlife management and protection correctly. 55% were very or somewhat satisfied with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, though 33% did not know and 6% were dissatisfied. The top programs/efforts of the department as rated by respondents included (% rating program as “excellent”):
- Providing hunting opportunities (17%)
- Enforcing fish and game laws (16%)
- Providing opportunities for public to view wildlife (14%)
- Providing recreational fishing opportunities (14%)
- [Lowest rank] Restoring native fish and wildlife species to the state (6%)
Sources of Credible Information on Fish, Wildlife and Outdoor Recreation: Main sources of info include:
- Internet other than Dept. site (34%)
- Newspapers (26%)
- Magazines (17%)
- ME Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife website (9%)
Sources of credible information include the Maine game wardens, biologists with the ME Dept, and professors of environmental science or biology with University of ME. Least credible were spokespersons with National Wildlife Federation, the ASPCA, local environmental organizations, and local sportsman’s organizations.
Fish and Wildlife Issues: The most important issues facing state agencies include:
- Polluted water/water quality (16%)
- Low fish populations (14%)
- Wildlife health (12%)
- Habitat loss (9%)
When asked to rate 8 fish and wildlife values, ME residents preferred “existence” values over recreational values.