New research backs recreational fishers and regulators to partner and safeguard key species.
In Queensland, recreational fishing isn’t just a pastime – it's a passion. Whether it’s chasing Barra in the tropics or casting a line in quiet estuaries, the connection between fishers and the water runs deep.
With nearly one million fishers, a 7,000km coastline, and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park spanning over 3.4 million km², recreational fishing is vast, diverse, and deeply embedded in the Sunshine State's culture.
But as fish stocks face growing pressures, the need for accurate, real-time data has never been more urgent.
To support long-term sustainability, the Department of Primary Industries Queensland (DPI) developed new functionality in the Qld Fishing 2.0 App under FRDC Project 2023-150, enabling recreational fishers to voluntarily report their catches.
App reporting features were released in response to the 2020 Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson) stock assessment, which highlighted the need for better recreational catch and depredation data to inform management decisions to protect the sustainability of the species. The latest stock assessment from DPI indicates that the population of east coast Spanish Mackerel has increased since the previous assessment , and DPI is now proposing to raise catch limits for commercial and recreational fishers.
Despite over 280,000 downloads of the app, consistent catch reporting by recreational fishers remains limited.
Understanding the barriers to reporting catches
To uncover why reporting remains limited and explore potential new approaches to increase catch reporting, DPI partnered with the FRDC and behavioural experts from Evidn, Social Marketing @ Griffith, Currie, Ball State University and SCF Australia.
“We saw this as an opportunity to tackle a long-standing challenge - getting better recreational catch data through voluntary reporting. It’s notoriously hard to get fishers to report to government, in Australia and globally, so we backed this research to understand the barriers and try a new approach,” Peta Schofield, Senior Project Officer at Reporting, Information and Digital Solutions, Fisheries Queensland, DPI, said.
The first step was a thorough behavioural systems assessment, led by Evidn, with findings captured in the report: A behavioural science approach to normalising voluntary catch reporting on the Qld Fishing 2.0 App. The assessment involved a detailed literature review, and interviews with more than 60 stakeholders, including recreational fishers, fishing club leaders, researchers and government representatives.
One insight stood out: fishers see themselves as stewards of the environment.
Using a behavioural science lens, the team mapped the fishing journey and identified eight driving forces (motivators) and 12 restraining forces (barriers) that influence fishers’ decisions to report – or not report – their catch.
The strongest motivator? A shared recognition that data is essential to sustain the future of recreational fishing.
But motivation alone isn’t enough. The research found fishers are only willing to participate when the right conditions are in place.
“We started by listening,” says Sam Moore, Behavioural Scientist and Project Manager at Evidn. “Fishers told us they care deeply about sustainability, but they’re cautious. Many feel their data has been used against them in the past, leading to more restrictions rather than better outcomes.”
Key forces holding fishers back
The conversations and research revealed several entrenched barriers to reporting catches. Notably, these included:
- Mixed messaging: Many fishers are unclear about the purpose of the app. Is it for science, compliance, or control? This confusion was found to undermine trust and reduce engagement.
- Distrust of government: DPI and other agencies are often seen as regulators rather than partners. Past experiences – such as perceived misuse of data leading to tighter restrictions – have left fishers wary.
- Protective of local knowledge: Fishers are protective of their routines and locations. Sharing catch data feels risky, especially in tight-knit communities where local knowledge is prized.
- Congestion and frustration: Fishing trips are increasingly packed with gear, rules and logistics. For boat fishers, adding another task – like reporting – can feel like a burden.
- Diversity of fishers: From competitive anglers to casual weekend fishers, the sector is incredibly varied. Messaging that resonates with one group may miss the mark with another.
“This research reminded us how critical transparency is – not just for data, but for building trust with fishers. Without participation and data from fishers, assessments aren’t as accurate or credible, which impacts how effective management decisions will be. It’s important to show fishers the value of their input,” Peta said.
Turning insight into action
To overcome these barriers, the report outlines a suite of five strategies ranging from individual to population-level interventions:
- Develop a clear call to action: Communicate why reporting matters, and how it benefits fishers directly.
- Build positive associations with DPI: Shift perceptions of government agencies from regulator to partner.
- Create meaningful partnerships: Leverage trusted voices and key networks to help spread the word.
- Establish new behavioural routines: Make reporting part of the fishing experience, not an add-on.
- Enhance app features: Apply behavioural design principles to reduce friction and increase engagement.
“This project is about more than technology,” says Sam. “It’s about relationships, trust, and making sure fishers feel they’re meaningfully contributing to the solution.”
“We’re looking at ways to show fishers how their data is used. That might be through dashboards, regional reports, or even simple updates in the app. The goal is to make reporting feel meaningful.”
What’s next?
The report has been followed by a series of co-design workshops, looking at ways to make reporting feel meaningful. Insights will be used in a pilot campaign rolled out later this year.
“We see this research as a practical guide – a recipe for improving catch reporting. We’re exploring the recommendations in this report and new app features with the ultimate goal to help normalise reporting behaviour over time and show fishers that their contribution matters,” Peta noted.
