1 Catching catch-and-release- evidence from an Atlantic salmon recreational fishery

Catch-and-release (C&R) is often regarded a win-win management tool in recreational fisheries. As long as release mortality is low, C&R may both secure sustainable fish stock and a large recreational fishing sector at the same time. Hence, apparently both the targeted fish populations and the recreational anglers are better off. However, this depends on both fish welfare assumptions as well as angler preferences. While fish welfare is widely studied, angler preferences have been ignored. The present paper presents the results from a study of angler preferences in a Norwegian recreational Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fishery. The results suggest that introducing mandatory C&R regimes may reduce the angler utility by a magnitude of up to 80 % in this fishery, and hence advocates caution and surveys to be undertaken before C&R introductions