Interannual variation in a freshwater recreational fishery under the influence of drought, bushfires, floods and a global pandemic

Abstract

Context As social–ecological systems, recreational fisheries often vary temporally in response to environmental changes affecting ecological processes and human behaviour. Monitoring such variability in this ecosystem service can guide adaptive management measures for sustainability. Aims This novel research for Australian, sought to quantify interannual changes in the freshwater recreational fisheries of five key (i.e. commonly caught) finfish species (Murray cod, Maccullochella peelii; golden perch, Macquaria ambigua; Australian bass, Percalates novemaculeata; brown trout, Salmo trutta; and rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss) in relation to a series of extreme climate-related events and the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Annual estimates during 2013–14, 2017–18 and 2019–20 of freshwater fishing effort and catch across New South Wales, Australia, were derived from off-site surveys and compared in relation to a severe drought period, the ‘Black Summer’ bushfires, widespread flooding and the COVID-19 pandemic, all of which affected fish productivity or human mobility. Key results There were significant declines in fishing effort between 2013–14, the year preceding the extreme environmental events and the pandemic, and 2017–18 and 2019–20. Catch across the five species was also significantly lower in 2019–20. Catch of species such as golden perch and rainbow trout declined from 2013–14 to 2019–20. Conclusions and implications This study can inform adaptive measures against societal and climate-related changes in weather by enabling scientists and managers to identify problematic trends.