Smarter Than a Sixth-grader: Seeking Fishing-regulation Simplicity

At least one state has figured out that complicated, burdensome fishing regulations are a barrier to participation in the sport we all love. To proof their rules, that state used focus groups of sixth-graders to test their effectiveness. The result? A 30 percent improvement in understanding Fish and Game regulations.

Tip of the hat to Idaho Department of Fish and Game and the sixth-graders of the great state of Idaho.

“It is the responsibility of the our state that our fisheries and wildlife are preserved, protected, perpetuated, and managed to provide continued supplies for fishing, hunting, and trapping for our citizens, and others, as allowed by law,” said Ed Schriever, chief of fisheries with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, sharing his state’s constitutional mandate. His department believes wildlife is a public trust and that citizens are the beneficiaries of that trust. “We are the managers for the benefit of the people. We want to make sure that in the management of the people’s fisheries we aren’t creating barriers that keep people from fishing.” Rules are obviously in place to manage people, not fish. “We are the managers for the benefit of the people for a positive outcome.”

I applaud this effort by the great folks of Idaho. If an outdoorsy person has to stress over complicated rules, he or she may simply quit fishing, or never start. Worse yet, he or she may risk fines and a blemished reputation due to ignorance. Nobody wants either.

“Most states set up their general rules by species and then publish all the exceptions, and there can be a lot. That’s where we made strategic changes to simplify,” continued Schriever. “We now have seven regions. The general rule became regional rules, because statistically, most people fish close to home.” They tried hard to find consistency between the seven regions as much as possible. This philosophy removed nearly all of the exceptions.

The next part of the equation was sharing the information. “We’re statisticians and we like data tables,” said the chief, talking of his comrades in the department, “but it was confusing the sixth-graders, the veterans groups, and fishing clubs we tested. By changing to a newspaper-style format, a style the users understood better, they also understood the information better.”

Regulations in my home state fill a 99-page booklet. The Idaho regulations are 60 pages and span three years, not one. Offering a three-year set of regulations removes a constantly-moving target. The three-year plan still allows changes to take place for resource management, just not as quickly.

Maybe one day a smartphone app will solve everything. Can you envision an app that helps an angler identify where he or she is by GPS point, and allows a sportsman or woman to view different regulations based on a point-and-click selection of a river or lake? Such an app’s potential could be greatly enhanced by allowing a user to view a location- and date-dependent calendar to determine which species were available for harvesting and when.

Easy. Peasy.

I think more families would fish if they didn’t feel so ignorant about all the rules and specifics that an avid fisherman takes for granted. With simpler regulations, potential anglers could be more likely to get out on the water, and do so more often. All from a little brilliant thought: keep it simple.

K.J. Houtman is the author of the award-winning Fish On Kids Books series, chapter books for eight- to 12-year-olds with adventures based around fishing, camping, and hunting. Her work is available at Amazon and local bookstores. Find out more at fishonkidsbooks.com.

K.J. Houtman

Houtman writes books embracing the great outdoors for children and adults. Available as paperbacks and e-books at Amazon, they are: A Whirlwind Opener (#1), Driving Me Crazy (#2), Spare the Rod (#3), Duck, Duck Deuce (#4), Born to be Wild (#5) and A Second Chance (#6) as well as K.J.'s Reflections Under the Big Pine with Bill Miller, a non-fiction devotional for adults.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the Fish On Kids Books series – Houtman has a wonderful talent. I'm engaged in the life of Gus and when one book ends, I want to find out what he is up to in the next.” Sharon Rushton, Outdoor Writer and author of No Paved Road to Freedom

“From cover to cover the best series of chapter books I've seen in years. These books are wholesome with a focus on adventure. Wish I had them when I was a kid. I'm still a kid at heart and prolific reader. These are my kind of books.” Larry Rea, host, Outdoors with Larry Rea, Memphis, TN

“I’ve read them all and think these books are great.” Jim Zumbo, professional hunter and outdoor writer