Fisheries science began to make contributions to management in the 1940s and 1950s. In 1954, R. W. Eschmeyer published the classic, Fish Conservation Fundamentals, recognizing the importance of recruitment, growth, and mortality. Since 1960, changes in fishing, fisheries, and fisheries science have progressed at a rapid pace, while management application of the science has been much slower. Fisheries have changed because of the combined effects of angler exploitation, habitat alterations, nonnative species introductions, and a host of other accidental and deliberate activities. As a result, managers are often confronted by intelligent, highly educated, and demanding user groups that have observed the declining quality of their fisheries.
Many anglers view special fishing regulations as a panacea for restoring angling quality.
In many cases, special fishing regulations have not yet been developed as effective management tools to meet the demands of the modern angler. Although site-specific special regulations have benefited some fisheries, the social and economic consequences of such management are not well understood and are unpredictable at best. Without the appropriate biological basis, such management actions can undermine professional and agency credibility, while fishery quality continues to decline. The AFS advocates sound science as the basis for fisheries management involving special fishing regulations for freshwater sport fisheries. The fisheries manager should ensure that the goals of a special regulation are compatible with broader, ecological management objectives.