Effects of Fishing Education Programs on Antecedents of Responsible Environmental Behavior.

The authors surveyed 619 participants in a national fishing education program (Hooked on Fishing--Not on Drugs) designed for youth in Grades 6-8. The survey of the youth assessed fishing and aquatic stewardship outcomes associated with different levels of program exposure (i.e., no program, programs without fishing, and programs with fishing). Youth who participated in programs that included experience-based fishing were more likely to report several desired fishing and stewardship outcomes. These data support the assumption that such programs are more likely to influence antecedents to environmentally responsible behavior than are programs without experience-based fishing. Key words: behavior, fishing programs, stewardship education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]