Do anglers take the bait? Anglers' perceptions about fluvial barriers in three river basins in Northern Spain

Abstract

Removing river barriers - such as dams or weirs - is an increasingly used strategy for restoring freshwater ecosystems. In Europe, these actions are key for achieving the goal of 25,000 kilometers of free-flowing rivers that the recent regulation on nature restoration establishes for 2030. However, social acceptance remains uneven, and local opposition--often related to cultural attachments, poor ecological awareness, and misinformation--may influence or even impede restoration efforts. Among stakeholders, anglers play a particularly influential role, yet their perceptions and knowledge remain poorly documented. This study addresses how anglers from three river basins in Northern Spain perceive river barriers, their removal, and their ecological impacts, and contrasts their attitudes to those of other residents. We carried out a telephone survey of 1,200 adult residents in the target basins. We assessed perceptions, misconceptions, and self-reported knowledge of river barriers, and collected various sociodemographic parameters. We selected 180 self-identified anglers and compared their answers to those from a subsample of 180 non-anglers with similar demographic characteristics. Despite reporting significantly higher self-perceived knowledge and more polarised responses, anglers showed lower awareness of the ecological impacts of fluvial barriers. They were more likely to underestimate their negative effects compared to the control group. In addition to falling for the main misconceptions surrounding the issue, their responses displayed a degree of bimodality, suggesting that the type of fishing practised may influence their attitudes. Our findings reaffirm the importance of strengthening awareness-raising efforts among relevant stakeholders about the impacts of river barriers and the benefits of their removal when planning specific interventions. It is essential to engage local communities--particularly key groups such as anglers--to strengthen the social acceptance of such actions and improve environmental governance.