Selecting from the Fisheries Managers’ Tool-Box: Recreational Fishers’ Views of Stock Enhancement and Other Management Options

As recreational fishers act relatively autonomously, management relies heavily on voluntary compliance. Therefore, understanding fishers’ views options can be beneficial. This study used a two-phase approach of face-to-face interviews and subsequent online questionnaires to evaluate salient issues affecting the Blue Swimmer Crab (Portunus armatus) Black Bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri) fisheries in Western Australia as well current potential arrangements, including stock enhancement. The strength heterogeneity were also determined. Minimum size limits mainly considered acceptable or very acceptable, with restricting fishing spatial closures least supported for both species, addition maximum crabs. These not always consistent across locations each species among types crab fishers, indicating views. Stocking was most measures already utilised crabs popular bream fisheries. Recreational believed enhancement could have strong positive outcomes abundance their target increase catches. They recognized that some negative outcomes, e.g., increased pressure environmental issues, might occur but them unlikely.