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This work constitutes an approach to hunting management in Uruguay. We have focused on wild boar hunting, the most widespread form of recreational hunting in this country. We explored the connections and discrepancies between the different actors based on a qualitative study conducted with conservationists, animal rights groups, nature managers, and hunters. The informality of hunting and the lack of population studies on wildlife were the main concerns raised while hunting with dogs was the most controversial issue. These results allowed us to propose some potential management actions to improve hunting management: issuing a hunting license, regulating hunting with dogs, developing collaborative wildlife monitoring, promoting new technologies within the framework of ethical hunting, and developing a realistic and effective poaching control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the number of hunters is declining nationally, the demand for big game hunting opportunities in the western United States remains strong. This essay examines big game permit allocation processes in several western states and suggests the status of wildlife is shifting from a public trust resource to a commercial product. As trustees of a public resource, many state wildlife agencies allocate limited big game hunting permits via a random drawing, a method that promotes fairness in the distribution of permits. In recent decades, however, some western states have implemented programs designed to provide guaranteed permits to outfitters or their clients, which goes against the idea of wildlife being a public trust resource. In these situations, the government is effectively subsidizing the outfitting industry. These practices need to end, as state wildlife agencies have a legal obligation to manage wildlife for the public's benefit, not private business interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dispersal is a complex series of movements before an individual establishes a home range. Animals must travel and forage in unfamiliar landscapes that include anthropogenic risks such as road crossings, harvest, and urban landscapes. We compare dispersal behavior of juvenile mountain lions (Puma concolor) from two geographically distinct populations in California and Nevada, USA. These two sites are ecologically similar but have different management practices; hunting is permitted in Nevada, whereas mountain lions are protected in California. We used GPS‐collar data and net‐squared displacement analysis to identify three dispersal states: exploratory, departure, and transient home range. We then compared each dispersal state of the two mountain lion populations using an integrated step selection analysis (iSSA). The model included explanatory variables hypothesized to influence one or more dispersal states, including distance to forest, shrub, water, hay and crop, developed lands, and four‐wheel drive roads, as well as elevation and terrain ruggedness. Results revealed consistent habitat selection between sites across most landscape variables, with one notable exception: anthropogenic covariates, including distance to developed land, distance to hay and crop, and distance to four‐wheeled drive roads, were only statistically significant on modeled habitat selection during dispersal in the population subject to hunting (i.e., Nevada). Results suggest that hunting (pursuit with hounds resulting in harvest) and non‐lethal pursuit (pursuit with hounds but no harvest allowed) increase avoidance of anthropogenic landscapes during dispersal for juvenile mountain lions. By comparing populations, we provided valuable insights into the role of management in shaping dispersal behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hunting has a unique status as a sport and leisure activity alongside its practices having high stakes for society related to ecology, biosecurity, animal welfare and public safety. As such, hunting must increasingly legitimate itself before the public both in terms of ethically justifiable motivations for why to hunt and ethical standards for how to hunt. One way in which public acceptance has been sought in recent years has been to frontline 'women hunters' as the hunting community's indirect ambassadors. An effort to recruit more women is also seen as imperative to the survival of hunting in a practical, demographic sense. When women enter hunting, they enter an arena that is opaque and difficult to navigate along with heavy baggage from gender roles, expectations about proximity to wildlife and nature, and masculine norms on behaviour. In this study, we demonstrate through semi-structured interviews, participant observation and auto-ethnography of a hunting license education in Sweden, how women navigate spaces carved out for men. The findings show traps of emphasised femininity, expectations of women as 'softening influences' on male hunters to rein in their potentially unethical behaviour, and as differentially positioned in the learning process of hunting. However, using Bourdieu's social capital, findings also reveal that women negotiate and trade attributes in creative ways – such as landownership, meat handling skills and knowledge – to gain an advantage, status or level the playing field. We argue that regardless of gender, being in a position of sufficient capital to be able to call out unethical behaviour in the hunting team is crucial insofar as it serves the hunting community's ultimate interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal fisheries are vital for food supply, employment, and social stability. However, overfishing is a common problem, often attributed to open access. Territorial Use Rights in Fisheries (TURFs) have gained popularity as a tool to improve the sustainability of coastal fisheries, but research on TURFs in China is limited. This paper examines the island reef fishery lease policy implemented in Shengsi County, Zhejiang Province, within the Ma'an Islands National Marine Special Reserve. The policy leases the use of island reefs to a collective, aiming to address overfishing and resource degradation by establishing fishing area boundaries and limiting the number of users and usage time. Technically, it is an application of TURFs, and it represents a shift from traditional fishing licenses to collective compliance. This experience has disrupted the existing top–down fishery governance structure and signifies a transition to a rights-based fishery management system in China. Through a comprehensive investigation and analysis of the policy's implementation, this research identifies the factors contributing to its flaws. These include the inadequate provision of national and local government policies, insufficient support for policy implementation from fishery management authorities, and the limited involvement of fishermen's organizations. To enhance coastal fishery management, we propose that the Chinese government should build upon existing foundations by clarifying fishing rights through central and local laws and policies. Additionally, there is a need to strengthen data monitoring of coastal fisheries, conduct multidisciplinary research to improve the allocation mechanism of fishing rights, adopt diverse fishery management approaches to enhance supervision capabilities, establish a collaborative governance mechanism, and foster coordination and cooperation between grassroots fishermen's organizations and government departments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rotational closures have potential fisheries benefits, yet their impact on coral cover is unknown. Research has shown that permanent closures can protect herbivorous fish, indirectly benefiting corals, but these observations may not apply when closed periods alternate with fishing. Here, we examine how rotational closures affect coral, focusing on systems with the potential to switch between alternative stable states, a context in which temporary closures may have persistent effects. We show that rotational closures can trigger coral recovery, and in some contexts lead to better coral recovery than fixed closures of similar size. Such benthic effects are only possible if closures last long enough for change to occur. We also note that very large fixed or rotating closures may concentrate fishing effort in areas where fishing remains permitted, leading to lower overall coral cover. Our findings offer crucial guidance to managers regarding rotational closures' potential advantages and drawbacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Marine Fisheries: Jurnal Teknologi & Manajemen Perikanan Laut is the property of IPB University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: Spearfishing is a common activity used to harvest coastal marine species worldwide and can be a significant contributor to landings of ecologically and economically relevant species. As such, it is important to monitor spearfishing catch and effort. Spearfishing is commonly practiced throughout the Caribbean, yet characteristics of this gear's fishery remain understudied in the region. Thus, the objectives of this study were to provide a description of the Puerto Rico spearfishing fishery utilizing a long-term MRIP APAIS data set, examine the data set quality of this survey, and provide suggestions to improve MRIP implementation in the U.S. Caribbean. Methods: We described the Puerto Rico recreational spearfishing fishery using a multidecadal (2000-2015) Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) Access Point Angler Intercept Survey conducted along the coast of Puerto Rico and surrounding territories. Data issues were identified in the survey results, including possible errors in measurement and identification; therefore, we limited analyses to species composition, enumeration, and mean catch rates. Result: There were 89 species identified, with snappers (family Lutjanidae) being the most encountered family. Other economically relevant finfish frequently reported were Hogfish Lachnolaimus maximus (n = 121), Queen Triggerfish Balistes vetula (n = 115), and Red Hind Epinephelus guttatus (n = 90). Multiple reef fishes were landed during their spawning season, while prohibited by seasonal closures. Further, spearfishing accounted for 25.8% of the total harvest throughout the study period. Conclusion: Our results suggest that spearfishing could be a considerable contributor to finfish landings in Puerto Rico, warranting its continued and improved monitoring in the region. Further, modifications in the design of fisheries surveys are warranted. We suggest increasing the allocation of resources, training, data quality assurance and quality control, and funding for the MRIP to maximize the accuracy of data obtained and meet MRIP U.S. Caribbean priorities. Implementation of a recreational fishing license would assist by creating a registry to monitor total recreational fishing effort and by generating funds to supplement the MRIP. The use of electronic reporting can help mitigate discrepancies with species identification and size measurements and enhance overall recreational fisheries data collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mental disorders are accountable for 16% of global disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Therefore, accessible, cost-effective interventions are needed to help provide preventive and therapeutic options. As directors and screenwriters can reach a great audience, they can use their platform to either promote stigma or educate the public with the correct definition and conception of mental disorders. Therefore, we aimed to measure the stigmatizing attitude of contemporary Iranian directors and screenwriters toward patients with mental disorders in comparison with a general population group. Methods: In this comparative study, we included 72 directors and screenwriters between 18 and 65 years of age with a minimum involvement in at least one movie/television show, and 72 age and educationmatched controls. We collected the demographic data of the participants, and used the Persian version of the Level of Contact Report (LCR) to measure their familiarity with mental disorders, and used the Persian version of Social Distance Scale (SDS) and Dangerousness Scale (DS) to measure their attitude toward them. Results: Compared to the general population group, directors and screenwriters had significantly lower SDS (12.51 ± 3.8 vs. 13.65 ± 3.73) and DS (12.51 ± 3.8 vs. 13.65 ± 3.73) scores (P < 0.001), indicating a more positive attitude toward patients with mental disorders. Familiarity with mental disorders was not significantly different between the groups. Female sex was associated with a more negative attitude among the directors and screenwriters group. Additionally, among the SDS items, 'How would you feel about someone with severe mental disorder marrying your children?' and 'How would you feel about someone with severe mental disorder taking care of your children for a couple of hours?' received the most negative feedback in both groups. And among the DS items, 'there should be a law forbidding a former mental patient the right to obtain a hunting license' received the most negative feedback in both groups. Conclusions: Iranian contemporary directors and screenwriters had a more positive attitude toward patients with mental disorders, compared to general population. Due to this relatively positive attitude, this group of artists can potentially contribute to anti-stigma initiatives by offering educational materials and resources, promoting mental health care, and improving access to mental health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early successional habitat (ESH), which is important to many game species, is declining throughout the Northeast United States. In New York State, management agencies are increasing efforts to manage for ESH, but such efforts require support from key stakeholders. We sought to understand the factors influencing such support among hunting license holders, and a subsample specializing in woodcock hunting, who use Wildlife Management Areas. Using structural equation modeling, we found significant direct and indirect relationships between type of hunter, hunting avidity, place attachment, and support for ESHM actions. Our findings suggest that to build support for habitat management, communications should focus on the benefits to the place, and emphasize management actions for wildlife species hunters are pursuing. Increased habitat from this type of management should lead to larger populations of game species, which could increase hunter satisfaction and perhaps increase the number of hunters interested in hunting for these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores challenges that Jersey faces in the post-Brexit era, and how Jersey can utilize paradiplomacy to overcome obstacles and broaden opportunities. Due to its constitutional status, preexisting international arrangements, and turbulences resulting from Brexit, the Bailiwick of Jersey is in a complicated context. Since May 2021, fishing conflicts have erupted off the coast of Jersey after the Jersey government adopted a post-Brexit fishing licensing scheme that requires French fishing boats to provide data showing they have a history of fishing in Jersey's waters. On the other hand, Jersey's export industry is stuck due to the island no longer benefiting from the free movement of goods after Brexit. In future negotiations, Jersey can use paradiplomacy to resolve post-Brexit difficulties. Jersey's interests will be best served by actively pursuing paradiplomacy with the EU and its members in order to achieve more beneficial trade and fishing arrangements for both parties. Jersey's paradiplomacy is not synonymous with protodiplomacy. It would be preferable for Jersey to remain under the sovereignty of the UK to maintain the substantial economic advantages and preferential treatment granted by the metropolitan territory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a major problem worldwide, often made more challenging by a lack of at-sea and shoreside monitoring of commercial fishery catches. Off the US West Coast, as in many places, a primary concern for enforcement and management is whether vessels are illegally fishing in locations where they are not permitted to fish. We explored the use of supervised machine learning analysis in a partially observed fishery to identify potentially illicit behaviors when vessels did not have observers on board. We built classification models (random forest and gradient boosting ensemble tree estimators) using labeled data from nearly 10,000 fishing trips for which we had landing records (i.e., catch data) and observer data. We identified a set of variables related to catch (e.g., catch weights and species) and delivery port that could predict, with 97% accuracy, whether vessels fished in state versus federal waters. Notably, our model performances were robust to inter-annual variability in the fishery environments during recent anomalously warm years. We applied these models to nearly 60,000 unobserved landing records and identified more than 500 instances in which vessels may have illegally fished in federal waters. This project was developed at the request of fisheries enforcement investigators, and now an automated system analyzes all new unobserved landings records to identify those in need of additional investigation for potential violations. Similar approaches informed by the spatial preferences of species landed may support monitoring and enforcement efforts in any number of partially observed, or even totally unobserved, fisheries globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fisheries conflicts have often been interpreted as arising from disputes over access to fish. Competition for fishing stocks among resource users (human and non-human) and fisheries managers' attempts to control access to fish are depicted as main causes of conflicts. From this perspective, rampant environmental degradation, climate change, and a growing human population will only exacerbate tensions in fisheries. Yet is it only competition for fish that drives conflicts? Research on coastal and small-scale fishers has shown that they fish not only to achieve economic (material) goals but also to fulfill social and immaterial needs. Drawing on Burton's theory of human needs, in this exploratory study, we consider how attention to coastal fishers' material and immaterial needs might illuminate aspects of fisheries disagreements that are missed when conflicts are theorized solely in terms of material interests. Our data comes from 46 voluntary written statements provided at the end of a self-administered survey on the fishing sector sent to all holders of a Swedish commercial fishing license in June 2019. Results suggest that coastal fisheries conflicts are not solely about access to fish but also about social and emotional needs for respect, identity, belongingness, and status. In particular, fishers' demands for actions to boost the number of coastal fishers – and subsequently the number of potential competitors – challenges the narrowly emphasis on materiality. We argue that an overemphasis on material needs may divert attention away from other causes of tension and thus prevent actions that could alleviate or mitigate fisheries conflicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public lotteries for non-market goods provide a unique field counterpart to experimental lotteries with monetary payoffs for investigating risk and time preferences. In this paper random expected utility and rank dependent expected utility models of public lottery choice are estimated under constant relative risk aversion preferences and hyperbolic time preferences with a balanced panel of 7,924 participants in the 127 lotteries for elk hunting licenses in New Mexico in the year before and after a set of natural policy experiments. Consistent with experimental findings, significant heterogeneity in risk and time preferences is found in applicant choices, and applicants are found to significantly place a nonlinear weight on both the probability of being drawn and of harvesting an elk. Mean discount rate estimates are also on a par with experimental results documented in the growing joint risk-time preferences literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catch‐and‐release (C&R) is a popular management tool that can support sustainable development of recreational fisheries, if anglers adopt scientifically informed "best practices." However, although the role of best practices is widely established in the academic literature, this knowledge is not always disseminated to anglers. In this paper, we investigated if and to what extent local management organizations provided best practice information to anglers. Based on a sample of 331 Swedish organizations, we reviewed the websites through which these organizations sold fishing licenses. Our review demonstrated widespread use of C&R as a management tool yet a general lack of best practice information. Among the small fraction of organizations that mentioned best practices, most mentioned only a single practice, with little consistency among practices that received attention. In addition, best practice information was particularly lacking for pike (Esox Lucius) and perch (Perca fluviatilis), which are by far the most landed and released species nationally. We discovered major knowledge deficiencies that provide insights about where and how to focus efforts for improving best practice information, in the context of local recreational fisheries management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results for the spatially lagged carnivore regressors have been omitted from the SDM column given that none are statistically different from zero Acknowledgements We are grateful to two anonymous reviewers for their contributions to improve the quality of this paper. [Extracted from the article]

Each year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Pakistan issues a special 10-day hunting permit to royal family members of Gulf countries for seasonal hunting of Asian Houbara bustard (Chlamydotis macqueen). This paper attempts to systematically present the understandings on seasonal land grabbing and its political economy in Pakistan. The role of local elites and government institutions and the response of local people, as well as their resistance, is discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current inquiry examines the influence that agency characteristics (e.g. hunting and fishing license sales, total revenue) have on the minimum entry and training standards established by those agencies (e.g. minimum education, academy type, physical standards). Open source data were collected from each state's conservation agency through an extensive internet search and directly contacting agencies. Findings indicated a significant relationship between the number of fishing license and hunting license holders and both the minimum education standards set by the agency and their academy modality (p ≤.05). Conversely, no significant relationships were found between revenue from license sales and any entry or training requirements. In addition, neither the number of license holders nor revenue was shown to be statistically significant among minimum physical standards for entry-level work as a conservation officer. Thus, the number of license holders appears to be more influential over the minimum education requirements and academy type versus generated revenue. This indicates that demand placed on natural resource organizations may have a greater effect than the revenue they generate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crappie (Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus and White Crappie P. annularis) fisheries are popular across the United States. Recently, Kansas anglers have expressed concern that using live‐imaging sonar (LIS) during winter months may increase catch, resulting in deleterious effects on crappie populations. Specifically, there was concern that (1) increased angler catch would result in population declines and (2) anglers would selectively capture the largest crappies in the population, thus reducing population size structure. We addressed these concerns with a controlled experiment at Cedar Bluff Reservoir, Kansas, over a 2‐week period in winter 2021. Anglers were permitted to fish for 1 d using LIS and another day not using LIS to evaluate differences in crappie catch. There was no difference in mean catch or length structure of crappies using LIS and not using LIS. These results suggest that LIS may not increase crappie catch, or length of captured crappie, in open‐water winter fisheries. Our findings, while limited in extent, provide an objective, quantitative glimpse at potential impacts of emerging technology on angler success. These results provide a starting point for assessment of LIS‐induced impacts on recreational fisheries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fereydunkenar county hosts millions of migratory birds in the southern parts of the Caspian Sea in the second half of every year. Despite the global prevalence of environmental crime, there is still a dearth of large-scale, empirical analyses of environmental crime in the Middle East. This study compared two well-established criminological frameworks rooted in social learning (neutralization theory and differential association theory) to compare four environmental crimes in Iran: illegal bird hunting, fishing without a license, water pollution, and soil pollution. We surveyed male villagers (N = 400) in the county of Fereydunkenar, which is located in the Mazandaran Province of Iran and hosts millions of migratory birds every year. Variables from neutralization theory (condemnation of the condemners, denial of victim and injury, and appeal to higher loyalty) and differential association theory (frequency of differential association with family and friends, and intensity of differential association) were measured. Approximately 75% of respondents had engaged in illegal bird hunting and nearly 53% of respondents had engaged in fishing without a license. However, water and soil pollution behaviors among the respondents were at low levels. The independent variables explained ∼53, 20, and 18% of the variance in the variables of water/soil pollution, illegal bird hunting, and illegal fishing, respectively. The frequency of differential association with family and intensity of differential association had the largest influences on illegal bird hunting and illegal fishing. The intensity of differential association, appeal to higher loyalty, and condemnation of the condemners had significant positive effects on water and soil pollution behaviors. Based on our models, we concluded that, compared to neutralization variables, differential association variables had greater effects on numerous environmental crimes in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fishing on the coasts of Berbería has been vital for the supply of the population of the Canary Islands since the 15th century. Canarian fishermen complained about the abuses of Portuguese warships, and Andalusian fishermen contributed to the growth of fishing in the area. Genoese and Flemish merchants benefited from this business, but there were risks such as shipwrecks and acts of piracy. Despite the obstacles, Canarian fishermen continued to supply the population of the Canary Islands. The article describes the working conditions and life of fishermen in the Canary Islands during the 17th and 18th centuries, highlighting the constant dangers they faced and the difference in food between poor fishermen and the more powerful ones. It also mentions King Carlos III's attempt to establish a settlement for Canarian fishermen on the African coast, but it was rejected by the Sultan of Morocco. The usefulness of fishing permits granted to Spaniards is questioned due to the lack of security in the area. The article also highlights the neglect of the Canary Islands in subsequent agreements and the lack of changes in relationships until the Africa War of 1859-1860. The occupation of Santa Cruz de Mar Pequeña was an excuse for Spanish colonial occupation in Africa and to protect Canarian fishermen. [Extracted from the article]

In Zimbabwe, which has experienced white settler colonialism, racial inequalities over resources have historically been shaped. Therefore, it is essential to consider the political and economic context of the commercial kapenta fishery, the focus of this paper. This paper aims to identify the politics of access to kapenta fishery and issues related to resource use, and discuss them from the perspective of Political Ecology. Kapenta fishery and the Lake Kariba where it developed were rooted in the historical context of settler colonialism. Racial exclusivity existed in access to fishing permit before independence. After independence, patron- client relationships functioned in access to fishing permit among black operators. However, the changes implemented in conjunction with land reform, with the redistribution of permits and the introduction of a lease system, the actors involved in kapenta fishing became more diverse and, in some cases, more informal. The operators identified the decrease in catches, trading on the lake and fishing in prohibited areas as challenges. These violations were the result of a combination of institutional changes and practices by actors at various scales. Understanding the complexity of environmental- human relationships, as this paper demonstrates, is important as a foundation for discussions of resource management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a non-steroidal estrogenic mycotoxin produced by the fungi of the Fusarium genera, and is a contaminant of cereals and plant products. ZEN and its metabolites are considered endocrine disruptors, and could have various toxic effects on animals and humans. In recent years, there has been a significant demographic increase in wild boar (Sus scrofa) in many mountainous and hilly areas of Italy, including the Campania region, mainly due to global climate change. The wild boar can be defined as a generalist and omnivorous species capable of varying its diet; therefore, it can play a role as an environmental bioindicator towards contaminants such as mycotoxins. This study was conducted to evaluate, for the first time, the concentrations of ZEN and its metabolites in the liver, kidney, and muscle of 82 wild boars shot in their habitat by hunters with hunting permits in different localities of Avellino province (Campania region, Southern Italy) from 2021 to 2022. The samples were collected and analyzed with an SPE clean-up and high-pressure liquid chromatography method with fluorescence detection. The results indicated that ZEN and α-Zearalenol were present in most of the samples, suggesting that a plan to monitor these mycoestrogens is essential to achieve the goals of "One Health". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first year of the COVID‐19 pandemic in 2020 was associated with an "anthropause" in many industries, initially reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other negative anthropogenic influences. However, outdoor recreation has exploded in popularity in response to closures of indoor recreation options, increased free time, and/or increased levels of stress. We tested for the effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the sale of fishing licenses in Wisconsin and on vehicle counts that were observed at public lake access points in Vilas County, Wisconsin, in 2020. In the summer of 2020, fishing license sales in Wisconsin, USA, increased, particularly among first‐time license purchasers for whom cumulative sales in 2020 increased by 71% and 35% compared with the previous 5‐year average for Wisconsin residents and nonresidents, respectively. Changes in the vehicle counts at lake access points in the summer of 2020 varied considerably by lake. However, lakes with greater proportions of public shoreline experienced pandemic‐associated increases in lake visitors. Our results suggest that the distribution of recreational fishing effort in Wisconsin changed during the pandemic, potentially placing additional harvest pressures on hot spot inland lakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seasonal harvest restrictions are a common strategy in fisheries management, designed to mitigate fishing pressure on economically and recreationally valuable fish and invertebrate stocks. However, uncertainty regarding recreational fishing effort responses to seasonal closures can lead to unintended consequences for target and non-target species. This is especially true in the Gulf of Mexico reef fishery, where anglers can switch among multiple target species and discard mortality for co-occurring species is high. Therefore, understanding the drivers of recreational fishing effort is needed to support management decisions. This study addresses knowledge gaps by employing a statistical model to analyze the relationships between recreational reef fish effort (measured in angler-trips) and species-specific seasonal management in the Gulf of Mexico along the west coast of Florida. We focused on ecological and management variables surrounding gag (M. microlepis), red grouper (E. morio), and red snapper (L. campechanus), which are among the most recreationally sought-after species targeted along the west coast of Florida. We also considered environmental covariates such as seasonal patterns, inter-annual changes in species abundance, and socioeconomic factors (i.e., numbers of saltwater fishing licenses sold and economic trends). Our analysis indicated considerable variation in effects of seasonal, environmental, and management predictors on recreational effort that were region-specific. Notably, management predictors related to both red snapper and gag, such as the fraction of a month open to harvest (both species) and the length of the red snapper season, directly influenced recreational effort. Given recent substantial reductions in the Gulf of Mexico gag season, we were particularly interested in the effect of gag management on angler-trips, but we did not find strong evidence that effort concentration has taken place for this species at this time. This information provides foundational insights into the seasonal, biological, and anthropogenic drivers of recreational angler reef fish effort along the west coast of Florida. This model, or related frameworks, could be valuable in forecasting future trends in recreational effort along the west coast of Florida specifically and the Gulf of Mexico more generally, and may be instrumental for managers seeking to comprehend the consequences of changes to seasonal reef fishery management. • Red snapper and gag temporal management influenced recreational effort along the west coast of Florida. • The fraction of months open to harvest for both red snapper and gag were both positively associated with effort. • Red snapper season length was negatively associated with effort, suggesting effort concentration. • Gag season length was not correlated with effort, suggesting effort concentration is not (yet) occurring for this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]