Untangling the impacts of baitfish regulations

The Challenge

Protecting our waters from the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) and pathogens is a top priority for conservation. One of the known pathways for spreading these threats is the movement of live baitfish between different waterbodies. As a result, many state agencies have considered new regulations on the use of live bait to protect their fisheries.

However, a major concern for policymakers has been that new rules might discourage anglers from fishing, leading to a decline in participation and a loss of revenue from license sales. We wanted to answer a critical question: do science-based regulations on live bait actually cause a drop in fishing participation?

Our Approach

To answer this question, we analyzed decades of fishing license sales data, a reliable indicator of public participation in fishing. We focused on four states that enacted significant changes to their live bait regulations: Maine, New York, Vermont, and Colorado.

Using a well-established statistical method, we compared the license sale trends in these four states to the trends of neighboring states in the same regions. This allowed us to see if there was a noticeable change in participation after the new regulations were put in place, compared to the regional pattern.

What We Found

Our analysis found no evidence that these new, more restrictive baitfish regulations caused a decline in fishing participation.

Across all four case studies, the patterns of license sales did not significantly change after the regulations were implemented. The data shows that anglers continued to buy licenses and participate in fishing at rates consistent with regional trends.

Why It Matters

This research provides strong, data-driven evidence that state agencies can take necessary, proactive steps to protect our waters from invasive species without negatively impacting the sport of fishing. It demonstrates that the angling community is resilient and that conservation and recreation can successfully go hand-in-hand. These findings empower policymakers to make informed, science-based decisions that protect our aquatic ecosystems for generations to come.