3 Methods of Fisheries Conservation for Kids

A great amount of effort goes into protecting our natural resources. One method of teaching kids conservation lessons can be gained from youth fisheries education. By learning to fish, not only will kids discover a route to outdoor fun and excitement, but they can gain environmental and ecology knowledge that also helps their future fishing success and empowers them to become a valuable preserving force for others.

1. Litter

Perhaps a good place to start with fisheries conservation for kids is by simply picking up trash. With adequate precautions such as gloves or pick-up grabbers, this activity results in instant gratification from dramatically improving the scenery by removing the carelessly tossed soda can. Family fisheries conservation efforts and respect for nature may have even started with the first prompting to “clean your room.”

2. Catch and Release

Kids learn conservation also by releasing a caught fish; with the chance to be caught again, that fish should even be larger. Learning how to land and handle different species of fish quickly and efficiently takes practice. Chances of a successful release can also increase by modifying kid fishing techniques such as using lures instead of bait and crimping the barbs of hooks. When the goal is to harvest fish, empower fisheries conservation for kids by letting them look up the fishing regulations to discuss some of the reasons behind the required sizes and quantities.

3. Water Quality

Depending on their ages, teaching kids conservation about clean water is important too but it can be more complicated. For example, the tendency is to think that only clear water has high water quality. However, often the high fertility and productive waters necessary for young fish and wildlife conservation have limited visibility due to suspended organic materials from turbidity or algae blooms. Because excessive silt and nutrient runoff can lead to fish kills, buffer zones are planted with trees, shrubs, and grasses by fisheries biologists or watershed communities which often develop this as potential conservation projects for kids.

Most professional conservation efforts are out of the initial scope of being kid projects such as monitoring biodiversity aspects, managing stormwater runoff, or addressing fish passage issues. However, through fishing one can teach kids fish and wildlife conservation. Plus, money raised from fishing licenses goes back into improving the fishery.