A One Health perspective on recreational fisheries
Steven J. Cooke,
Andy J. Danylchuk,
Joel Zhang,
Vivian M. Nguyen,
Len M. Hunt,
Robert Arlinghaus,
Kathryn J. Fiorella,
Hing Man Chan,
Tony L. Goldberg
Affiliations
Steven J. Cooke
Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
Andy J. Danylchuk
Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
Joel Zhang
Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
Vivian M. Nguyen
Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
Len M. Hunt
Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 5E1, Canada
Robert Arlinghaus
Division of Integrative Fisheries Management, Albrecht Daniel Thaer Institute, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Kathryn J. Fiorella
Public and Ecosystem Health Department, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
Hing Man Chan
Chemical and Environmental Toxicology Program, Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
Tony L. Goldberg
School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
Recreational fisheries involve an intimate connection between people, individual fish, and the environment. Recreational fishers and their health crucially depend on healthy fish and ecosystems. Similarly, fish and ecosystems can be impacted by the activities of people including recreational fishers. Thus, amplified by the global interest in recreational fishing, we posit that recreational fishing is particularly suited as an empirical system to explore a One Health perspective, with a goal of creating pathways to better manage such socio-ecological systems for the benefit of people, fish, and the environment. Although zoonoses are uncommon in fishes, fish can carry pathogens, biotoxins, or contaminants that are harmful to people. When captured and released, fish can experience stress and injuries that may promote pathogen development. Similarly, when humans contribute to environmental degradation, not only are fish impacted but so are the humans that depend on them for nutrition, livelihoods, culture, and well-being. Failure to embrace the One Health perspective for recreational fisheries has the potential to negatively impact the health of fish, fisheries, people, society, and the aquatic environment—especially important since these complex social–ecological systems are undergoing rapid change.
