CT DEEP works to address data gaps in Connecticut’s annual angler survey caused by language barriers between anglers and surveyors.
This article was originally published in December 2022 as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law fact series. It was updated on November 14, 2023 and again on February 22, 2024. You can view the original fact sheet here.
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) is taking steps to eliminate language barriers to improve the accuracy of data collected from annual recreational fishing surveys. To achieve this, the Long Island Sound Study has provided $62,632 to hire staff who will be able to communicate with non-English speaking community members. The project is being funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).
As of February 2024, project leads have coordinated with partner organizations and hosted five in-person canvassing recruitment events. A part-time staff member was on-boarded to assist with materials translation. Additionally, CT DEEP is distributing a multilingual flyer to recruit translators needed to speak to all anglers in the Sound.
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.