De-hooking depredation: Exploring multiple fisher perceptions about marine depredation in Florida

Marine depredation involves the removal of or damage to captured fish by predators, and recent evidence suggests it is increasing globally likely due to increasing fishing effort and changes in predator behavior. Anecdotal reports indicate that marine depredation in Florida may be especially severe, given the high number of fishers and predator species. However, the magnitude of marine depredation in Florida and fisher perceptions of these events are poorly understood. We employed a survey of commercial, private recreational, and for-hire saltwater license holders to explore the extent and magnitude of fishing experiences and perceptions related to marine depredation across Florida, highlighting differences among fisher groups using closed- and open-ended survey questions. We found few to no significant differences between fishing sector groups, meaning depredation was prevalent across all locations, gear types, and target species. Most user groups experienced depredation by more than one predator, but sharks and dolphins were reported as the most common predators. Commercial and for-hire operators were more likely to have very negative and negative sentiments toward predators, while private recreational fishers were more likely to view their depredation experiences as neutral. The need for improved management of predators and other fish stocks was expressed across all sectors, especially among commercial fishers. Our results support the growing literature on increased depredation experiences statewide and the need to devise a solution for all marine fisheries users in Florida. We anticipate our exploratory findings to be used as a starting point for researchers and fisheries management agencies to understand fishing sector perceptions and attempt to mitigate negative depredation experiences.