Evaluating the Success of Fish Consumption Advisories among Angling Groups in the Lake Champlain Basin, Vermont
Conference Year
2023
Abstract
This thesis evaluates the effectiveness of Vermont Department of Health fishing advisories among angling groups in the Lake Champlain Basin region. A mixed methods approach was used to understand fish consumption practices and advisory knowledge, including a quantitative survey targeted to the average Vermont angler, and focus groups with the Nepali/Bhutanese and Arab communities. I found that awareness of contaminants in fish and fish consumption advisory knowledge were significantly lower in the Nepali and Arab communities compared to white recreational anglers. Barriers in language, accessibility of information, and lack of effective advisory dissemination were the main drivers of this disparity.
Primary Faculty Mentor Name
Ariana Chiapella
Graduate Student Mentors
Saurav Lamichhane
Status
Undergraduate
Student College
Rubenstein School of Environmental and Natural Resources
Program/Major
Environmental Sciences
Primary Research Category
Life Sciences
Evaluating the Success of Fish Consumption Advisories among Angling Groups in the Lake Champlain Basin, Vermont
This thesis evaluates the effectiveness of Vermont Department of Health fishing advisories among angling groups in the Lake Champlain Basin region. A mixed methods approach was used to understand fish consumption practices and advisory knowledge, including a quantitative survey targeted to the average Vermont angler, and focus groups with the Nepali/Bhutanese and Arab communities. I found that awareness of contaminants in fish and fish consumption advisory knowledge were significantly lower in the Nepali and Arab communities compared to white recreational anglers. Barriers in language, accessibility of information, and lack of effective advisory dissemination were the main drivers of this disparity.