BIL-funded project will help break down language barriers in annual angler survey

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) is taking steps to eliminate language barriers to improve the accuracy of the data collected from annual recreational fishing surveys.

To help do this, the Long Island Sound Study is providing $62,632 to hire two seasonal staff members
who will be able to communicate with non-English speaking community members. The project is being
funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).

Since 1988, CT DEEP has been conducting in-person interviews with Connecticut anglers fishing off the
shores of Long Island Sound. These interviews, which take place as part of a multi-agency partnership called the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP), provide important data about angler needs and fishery management. Results from the survey can influence annual catch limits and approximate current fish stocks. While the information has been useful, critical data gaps have persisted due to language barriers between the surveyors and the many non-English speaking anglers who are unable to take part in the survey and contribute additional data to the survey.

CT DEEP facilitates the annual angler survey in Connecticut with local staff as part of a nationwide survey conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries
Program. It is conducted at a carefully selected subset of the 213 public fishing access sites in Connecticut. Site visits are arranged throughout the season on various days of the week, hours,
and geographic locations to diversify the types of anglers interviewed for the survey. Anglers are asked a number of questions to help track and evaluate user trends regarding saltwater recreational fishing, including the types of fish they caught and whether each fish was harvested or released.

Language barriers have been noted as one of the most common reasons for an interview not to be conducted. In 2021, for example, there were over 120 missed opportunities for the survey to be conducted due to language barriers. Many of the missed opportunities occurred among anglers
who spoke dialects of Spanish as well as many other languages. The seasonal staff members will be hired
from the local communities and will be able to communicate in some of the frequently spoken non-English languages of the area.

The data that is collected through these surveys goes on to support fisheries science and management.
Records of how many individuals of a particular species are collected at different geographic locations can help influence future sustainable fishing practices. Having the ability to interview all willing anglers at the site, regardless of the languages they speak, will allow for a more extensive and accurate data set.