Subsistence fishing patterns near food deserts

Fisheries are critical for sustaining waterfront communities. However, subsistence fishing is not well understood in the United States, despite its potential contributions to health and culture. We piloted a multivariable construct to classify subsistence vs. non-subsistence fishers, identified the strongest predictor of participating in this practice, and tested for differences in fishing motivations, behaviors, and community sharing. Among shore-based fishers in coastal Alabama, lower household income was the most powerful predictor of subsistence fishing. Subsistence fishers held more fishing motivations, targeted more specific fish groups, were more efficient in catching and keeping fish, and more frequently shared fish across social groups. Informed by these findings, we described management strategies to sustain practices and characterize opportunities and barriers for shore-based subsistence fishing in coastal Alabama. At a broader scale, the framework piloted here offers a pathway to integrate subsistence fisheries into management using place-based evidence (Swinea et al., 2025).

We deployed surveys at public, shore-based fishing sites along Mobile Bay, Alabama, and site identification was critically improved through cooperation with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Mobile Environmental Justice Action Coalition, and Mobile Baykeeper.