Ebenezer O. Ogunyinka David R. Lavergne

Transcription

1 Ebenezer O. Ogunyinka David R. Lavergne Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Office of Management and Finance Socioeconomic Research and Development Section 3 rd National Forum on Socioeconomic Research in Coastal Systems, CNREP, New Orleans, LA May 26 28, 10. LDHH Award Number

2 Objective Background Information Identify linkages between recreational fishermen s behavior in response to health/fish consumption advisories and highest education completed Data Source 08 LA Recreational Fisherman and Health Advisory Survey (LDWF-SRD) Scope of Survey Activities within 12 month period prior to survey Survey Sections Freshwater (FW), Saltwater (SW), Fish Consumption and Health Advisory & Demographic Information 2

3 Presentation Focus Highest education completed < High, High Tech/Vocational Education and Some, Post-Grad Awareness of health/fish consumption warnings for LA water bodies and fish species Are they aware? Yes or No? How did they become aware? What did the warnings say? How difficult were the warnings to understand? Effect of warnings on fishing activities Change in fish eating habits? Yes or No? Suggestion on best ways to reach them with info on warnings 3

4 1. What is the Highest Level of Education that You ve Completed? (Check only one) Percentage of Respondents < High n = 1,722 of 1,774 High Tech./Voc. Some Post-Grad Educational Levels 4

5 2. Have you ever Seen, Heard or Read any Fish Consumption Warnings for LA Waters or Fish Species? Percentage of Respondents n: ,722 < High High Tech./Voc. Some Post-Grad Total Yes No Education Levels Note: The rest of the presentation is based on the total number of respondents who were aware of warnings and reported their education levels: N = 999 5

6 3A. How Did You See, Hear or Read about the Warnings? (Check all that apply) Source of Information on Warnings Family or Friends Doctor Local Health Clinic Library Newspapers or Magazines Radio Television Internet Billboards Brochures / Fishing Reg. Booklet Signs at Bait Shop, Fishing Sites, etc. Restaurant Label on Fish Purchased Others Number of Respondents 6

7 3B. How Did You See, Hear or Read about the Warnings? (Check all that apply) Percentage of Respondents # Respondents who were aware of warnings by Education Level: n: < High High Tech/Voc Some Education Level Post-Grad Total Family or Friends Television Signs at Bait Shop, Fishing Sites, etc. Newspapers or Magazines Brochures / Fishing Reg. Booklet 7

8 4A. What Did the Warnings Say? (Check all that apply) Contents of Warnings Mercury Contamination in Fish Chemical Contamination in the Water Don t Eat Any Fish Don t Eat Certain Kinds of Fish Don t Eat Certain Sizes of Fish Don t Eat Raw Shellfish Don t Eat Certain Parts of Fish Eat Less of Certain Kinds of Fish Avoid Longterm Consum of Certain Fish Don t Swim in the Water Fish Cleaning Recommendations Fish Cooking Recommendations Others I Don t Know Number of Respondents 8

9 4B. What Did the Warnings Say? (Check all that apply) Percentage of Respondents # Respondents who were aware of warnings by Education Level: n: < High High Tech/Voc Some Education Level Post-Grad Total Mercury Contamination in Fish Don t Eat Raw Shellfish Chemical Contamination in the Water Avoid Longterm Consum of Certain Fish 9

10 5A. How Difficult was the Information in the Warnings to Understand? (Check only one) Not Difficult 818 Levels of Difficulty Somewhat Difficult Difficult 22 1 Very Difficult Number of Respondents 10

11 5. How Difficult was the Information in the Warnings to Understand? (Check only one) Percentage of Respondents # Respondents who were aware of warnings by Education & Difficulty Levels: n: < High High Tech/Voc Some Education Level Post-Grad Not Difficult Somewhat Difficult Difficult Very Difficult Total 11

12 6A. How have these Warnings affected your Fishing Activities? (Check all that apply) Effect of Warnings on Fishing Activities I Did Not Change My Fishing Activities Took Fewer Fishing Trips Switched To Location With No Warnings Kept Different Kinds of Fish Kept Smaller Fish Kept Fewer Fish Practiced Catch and Release Followed the Warnings at Fishing Locations Stopped Fishing Alltogether Others (71% of 999) Number of Respondents 12

13 6B. How have these Warnings affected your Fishing Activities? (Check all that apply) Percentage of Respondents # Respondents who were aware of warnings by Education Level: n: < High High Tech/Voc Some Education Level Post-Grad Total I Did Not Change My Fishing Activities Practiced Catch and Release Switched To Location With No Warnings Followed the Warnings at Fishing Locations 13

14 7. Have you changed your Fish Eating Habits Because of these Warnings? Percentage of Respondents n: < High High Tech/Voc Some Post-Grad Total Yes No Education Levels 14

15 8A. If you have Changed your Fish Eating Habits, then How Have they Changed? (Check all that apply) How Fish Eating Habits Changed Stopped Eating All Raw Fish & Shellfish Stopped Eating All Fish Over a Certain Size Stopped Eating All Fish from Waters with Warnings Stopped Eating Certain Fish from Waters with Warnings Ate Less Fish from Waters with Warnings Ate Less of Certain Fish from Waters with Warnings Ate Less Fish Over a Certain Size from W Warnings Ate More Fish Bought from a Store or Vendor Changed the Way I Clean Fish Changed the Way I Cook Fish Others Number of Respondents 15

16 8B. If you have Changed your Fish Eating Habits, then How Have they Changed? (Check all that apply) Percentage of Respondents # Respondents Who Changed Fish Eating Habits by Education Level: n: < High High Tech/Voc Some Post Grad Total Education Level Stopped Eating All Raw Fish & Shellfish Stopped Eating All Fish from Waters with Warnings Stopped Eating Certain Fish from Waters with Warnings Ate Less Fish from Waters with Warnings Ate More Fish Bought from a Store or Vendor 16

17 9A. If you did not Change your Fish Eating Habits, then Why did you not Change? (Check all that apply) Why Fish Eating Habits Didn't Change No Health Warnings in the Water Bodies Where I Fish I Do Not Usually Eat Fish Caught from Water with Warnings I Do Not Eat Enough Fish for the Warnings to Apply to Me I Don't Think the Health Warnings Are Accurate Health Benefits of Eating Fish Outweigh the Negative Effects I Need the Fish I Caught to Feed Myself and My Family People Have Been Eating Fish Caught Here and Not Sick Don t Know Others Number of Respondents 17

18 9B. If you did not Change your Fish Eating Habits, then Why did you not Change? (Check all that apply) Percentage of Respondents # Respondents Who Didn't Change Fish Eating Habits by Education Level: n: < High High Tech/Voc Some Education Level Post-Grad No Health Warnings in the Water Bodies Where I Fish I Do Not Usually Eat Fish Caught from Water with Warnings I Do Not Eat Enough Fish for the Warnings to Apply to Me People Have Been Eating Fish Caught Here and Not Sick Total 18

19 10A. What are the Best Ways to reach you with Information about Rec. Fishing and H/FC Warnings? (Check all that apply) Best Ways Doctor Local Health Clinic Library Brochures Newspapers or Magazines Mail-outs Radio Television Internet Fishing Regulation Booklet Signs at Marina, Fishing Site, etc. Billboards Give Me Info When I Buy License Others Number of Respondents 19

20 10B. What are the Best Ways to reach you with Information about Rec. Fishing and H/FC Warnings? (Check all that apply) Percentage of Respondents Total Number of Respondents by Education Level: n: ,722 < High High Tech/Voc Some Education Level Post-Grad Total Newspapers or Magazines Radio Internet Mail-outs Television Fishing Regulation Booklet

21 Summary & Conclusion Awareness of health/fish consumption warnings rose with education. Only among respondents with less than high school education was the majority (~ 58%) unaware of warnings. Mercury contamination in fish was the top warning reported by the majority of respondents (62-75%) across education levels. Majority of respondents (> 80%) across education levels had no difficulties in understanding what the warnings say. Majority of respondents (65-72%) across education levels didn t change their fishing activities. Most of the few that changed fishing activities followed warnings at fishing locations..21

22 Summary & Conclusion Variations exist in how education levels have affected fish eating habits. Variations exist in how education levels have influenced respondents who did not change fish eating habits. Variations exist in respondents preferences for sources of information on warnings. Preference for the internet rose with education..22

23 Contact Information Ebenezer Ogunyinka LA Dept. Wildlife & Fisheries Socioeconomics Section P. O. Box Baton Rouge, LA Tel.: (225) Website Link : 08 LA Recreational Fisherman and Health Advisory Survey Report