Abstract
This report presents the findings from a mixed-method research project initiated by Fish and Game New Zealand (FGNZ), and conducted by staff at the University of Otago, with the aim of better understanding women’s participation in, and perspectives of, freshwater fishing in Aotearoa New Zealand. The findings in this report are based on an email survey of 2,456 women anglers, coupled with 30 semi-structured interviews. Data was collected between November 2022 and August 2023.
The specific aims of the study were to:
• Characterise the demographics of existing women licence holders and investigate current and past levels of participation, interest, and specialisation in freshwater fishing.
• Understand women anglers’ current and past motivations for freshwater fishing.
• Explore the relationship between freshwater fishing and identity.
• Investigate socialisation factors to do with women anglers’ participation in freshwater fishing.
• Identify factors that constrain and/or facilitate women anglers’ participation in freshwater fishing.
• Evaluate the values and ethics of women anglers.
• Explore women anglers’ views in relation to representations of women in FGNZ material, and the willingness of women anglers to be involved with freshwater fisheries governance.