Introducing disciplinary perspectives and interdisciplinary possibilities for studying recreational fishers and fisheries

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Abstract

Individuals from many disciplines conduct research to understand the social dimension of recreational fisheries. This diverse inquiry has produced a comprehensive understanding of the behaviours of recreational fishers, the outcomes from fishing, and the relationships among fishers, others, and the natural and human environment. The associated body of research, however, is largely disconnected across disciplines. Our goals here are to help readers understand the similarities and differences among disciplines and to identify opportunities for interdisciplinary-based research on recreational fishers. Before addressing these goals, we begin by answering basic questions: What is a discipline? What are the primary disciplines used to study recreational fishers? And what is the genealogy of research on recreational fishers? Seven key disciplines are then classified by multi-criteria related to both focus and epistemological and methodological approaches. This classification reveals clear connections among: (i) ecological science and resource economics, and to a lesser extent historical ecology; (ii) environmental history and political ecology; and (iii) behavioural economics and social psychology. We next describe and provide possible remedies for barriers that inhibit interdisciplinary research, including different epistemologies, nomenclature, and reward bias. Finally, we highlight opportunities to conduct interdisciplinary research by describing the types of benefits that each discipline can provide when conducting interdisciplinary research on recreational fisheries.

Suggested Citation

Hunt, L.M., Boucquey, N., Beardmore, B., Christensen, J., Fulton, D.C., Mackay, M., Melstrom, R.T., Post, J.R., Schroeder, S.A., Thurstan, R.H., van Putten, E.I., and Arlinghaus, R., 2026, Introducing disciplinary perspectives and interdisciplinary possibilities for studying recreational fishers and fisheries, chap. of Understanding recreational fishers: Disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches for fisheries management, p. 57-93, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-99739-6_3.

Publication type Book chapter
Publication Subtype Book Chapter
Title Introducing disciplinary perspectives and interdisciplinary possibilities for studying recreational fishers and fisheries
Series number 3
DOI 10.1007/978-3-031-99739-6_3
Publication Date December 15, 2025
Year Published 2026
Language English
Publisher Springer
Contributing office(s) Coop Res Unit Leetown
Description 37 p.
Larger Work Type Book
Larger Work Subtype Monograph
Larger Work Title Understanding recreational fishers: Disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches for fisheries management
First page 57
Last page 93
Additional publication details