Climate change and trout fishing in Georgia

Abstract

A value orientation approach was used to segment a survey sample of Georgia trout anglers to better understand their perception of climate change (CC) risk and behavioral intentions of changing recreation pursuits with decrease in trout populations. Cluster analysis yielded four segments of respondents: pluralist (49%), protectionist (18%), dominionistic (18%), and distanced (17%). Protectionists followed by pluralists seemed to be relatively more aware of the risk of CC than the others and were also likely to reduce trips to affected fishing sites. Distanced were neither strong believers nor deniers of risk of CC, whereas dominionistics were deniers of CC and seemed to have the least concern over its impact on trout fishing. Further, a multivariate analysis revealed protection orientation, knowledge of current impact of CC on trout, belief about climate change, perceived quality of trout fishing, specialization, importance of catching many trout, and source of climate information as significant predictors of trout anglers’ concern about risk of CC. Similarly, protection orientation, concern, specialization, importance of catching many trout, trout substitutes, and importance of nature and scenery were significant predictors of behavioral intentions of adjusting fishing trips to affected sites.