Enhancing Recreational Fisheries and Habitat Management

The project aims to assess the feasibility of creating special management areas to enhance recreational fisheries and habitat quality in the St. Martin’s Marsh Aquatic Preserve. Recognizing the economic and ecological importance of nearshore recreational fisheries, the project addresses habitat degradation due to propeller scarring from increased boating activities. The objective is to explore innovative management practices, such as special management areas, to protect fish stocks and improve habitat quality. The project will collect high-resolution drone imagery to identify prop scarring, analyzing spatial management regimes, assessing legal frameworks, and modeling impacts on fisher behavior and economic outcomes. The project seeks to provide innovative management solutions to sustain fish populations and preserve habitats, addressing concerns from local stakeholders about increased boating and fishing pressures. Ultimately, the project will provide a foundation for policy recommendations and stakeholder engagement.