Micro-Fishing as an Emerging Form of Recreational Angling: Research Gaps and Policy Considerations

Micro-fishing is an emerging form of recreational angling that targets small-bodied fish in inland and marine waters. Although most fish are presumably released, some are retained as specimens for home aquaria or dissection to confirm identification. To date, very little is known about the effects of micro-fishing on individuals (e.g., stress, injury, mortality), populations, or communities owing to a historical focus on large-bodied species in recreational fisheries. We identify a list of research gaps that should be addressed to better elucidate motivations and identify any potential negative effects of micro-fishing and how they could be mitigated. We also consider the implications of micro-fishing for policy and management, recognizing the many uncertainties given lack of empirical research.