The Theory and Practice of Aquatic Stewardship Education

Moderators: Barb Knuth, Bill Siemer, Andy Loftus, and Carl Richardson
Emails: bak3@cornell.edu, wfs1@cornell.edu, aloftus501@aol.com and crichardso@state.pa.us.

Date: Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Time: 8:00 am to 5:40 pm
Location: Egan 6

This symposium will serve as a catalyst to organize the most current thinking about how to define, foster, and evaluate desirable aquatic stewardship behaviors as well as how to develop the educational programs and other motivating forces underlying such behavior. The symposium will also serve to educate attendees about the context of national-level programs (purposes, activities) designed to address issues of aquatic stewardship. The Strategic Plan for the National Outreach and Communication Program, prepared by the Sportfishing and Boating Partnership Council (SFBPC) sets forth a vision for increasing sportfishing and boating participation and enhancing aquatic stewardship. Implementation of the Plan is conducted by the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF). The SFBPC and the RBFF have agreed to provide funding to support this symposium (e.g., speaker travel) as well as seed money toward a symposium proceedings (the steering committee above is in the process of submitting a proposal to the AFS publications office re: a proceedings). Cornell University is also providing funding. This symposium will represent a partnership among academics, aquatic resource educators, fishery management professionals, and the fishing and boating industries to develop a shared understanding of desired characteristics of aquatic resource stewardship. Further, this symposium will help elucidate what is known regarding the relationship between boating and fishing participation and aquatic stewardship attitudes and behaviors. Speakers will be solicited from aquatic and marine resources education associations regarding theory and practice of aquatic resource stewardship education; academic institutions whose researchers work actively on the topics of aquatic stewardship and/or environmental education and program evaluation; boating and fishing industries whose staff can provide perspectives on what stewardship means and how it can be fostered from the perspective of industry; professional consultants who can provide information regarding the role of environmental communication in fostering stewardship behavior; and program coordinators who can describe the features of select aquatic stewardship education programs. One speaker will address the role of the AFS in supporting goals for aquatic stewardship, one of the major focal areas in the AFS Strategic Plan.

Link to list of presentations in this symposium

Sponsors:

Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council

Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation