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Document Type
Thesis - University Access Only
Award Date
2014
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department / School
Natural Resource Management
First Advisor
Larry Gigliotti
Keywords
anglers, surveys, evalutation
Abstract
Fisheries management is comprised of the biota, habitat, and human users. Appreciating the human user is critical for ensuring support for management practices (e.g., habitat alterations and fishing regulations), investigating angler effort on the landscape (e.g., site selection and consumptive choices), and to get vital political and economic support for conservation. Agencies have limited resources from which to collect stakeholder information. Entities perform surveys when data is needed from stakeholders similar to the biological surveys conducted when data is needed about fisheries. Both are necessary for limiting uncertainty during decision-making processes. Advances in survey methods provide opportunities for agencies to improve how they collect information from human users. South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks demonstrated its commitment to resource user research through eight mailed angler surveys over the last 19 years. However, internet surveys can also provide information relevant to fisheries management with lower costs and labor. Therefore, the agency has collected email addresses volunteered by a portion of license buyers for the purpose of online surveys. Email addresses allow agencies to send online survey invitations while controlling access to them. Internet survey data was compared to mail surveys of individuals not providing email addresses, and individuals not responding to the internet survey. Despite potential for bias due to incomplete email coverage and internet nonresponse, online survey data was comparable to both mail surveys. Agencies can consider appropriately conducted internet surveys as an effective stakeholder “sampling gear” when collecting information necessary for fisheries management. These results may also be applicable to other natural resource user populations including hunters, public land users, and land conservation enrollees.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Internet surveys -- Evaluation
Fishing surveys
Format
application/pdf
Number of Pages
132
Publisher
South Dakota State University
Rights
Copyright © 2014 Kjetil Ryan Henderson . All rights reserved.
Recommended Citation
Henderson, Kjetil Ryan, "Evaluating the Value of the Internet for the Collection of Scientific Data (Use, Harvest, and Attitudes) From Anglers" (2014). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 464.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/464