Polluted fish, sources of knowledge, and the perception of risk: Contextualizing African American anglers' sport fishing practices

Risk reduction advisories exist for the Great Lakes because exposure to chemicals in sport fish could lead to adverse health effects in sport fish consumers. Concern has focused on minority anglers who consume more sport fish than white anglers. To determine the fishing and sport fish consumption context, including concepts of pollution and perceptions of risk, focus groups were conducted with African American anglers in western New York. Anglers viewed fishing as a beneficial, low-risk activity in which they engaged in their sport of choice, relaxed by the water, and socialized. Participants were either unaware or tended not to use health advisory information to direct their fishing practices, preferring to rely on traditional knowledge gained by personal experience or by learning from other anglers. Local waters were considered polluted, but this pollution was not thought to be typically hazardous or unavoidable. Judgments about pollution were empirical, based on what anglers could detect with their unaided senses. Specific waters and fish were purposely avoided based on personal judgments of safety. Discussion focuses on lay models of pollution and risk, the role of culture, and application of findings to risk communication.