Pier Outreach Evaluation Results Are In
From July 22, 2012 to June 2, 2013 the FCEC Pier Outreach Evaluation team collected 670 surveys from anglers in the red zone extending from Seal Beach Pier to Santa Monica Pier. The objective was to investigate the differences between anglers who received outreach with the local fish contamination information from Cabrillo Marine Aquarium and Heal the Bay compared to anglers who did not receive outreach.
Although respondents across the entire sample reflected a high level of awareness (49% or higher) of Do Not Consume (DNC) fish, FCEC was particularly interested in how our outreach efforts, specifically, impacted the level of contamination awareness. After careful evaluation of the data, pier anglers who received outreach did in fact show a significantly greater awareness of fish contamination across the five DNC fish species compared to anglers who did not. For those who received outreach, the difference of greater awareness ranged from 13% – 19% per DNC fish species.
In addition to higher awareness levels to those who had received outreach, we wanted to evaluate the pier angler’s intentions with the DNC fish. Results for intentions to throw back DNC fish and to [not] give DNC fish to family or friends provided further evidence that anglers who did receive outreach were more likely to do the desired outcome compared to those who did not receive outreach. For the full report, click here.
Given the Pier Outreach Evaluation results, FCEC’s pier outreach has proved to be effective in protecting the public from health risks of consuming local contaminated fish. Take a look at FCEC’s Pier Outreach Team in action informing pier anglers of the local fish contamination throughout the year by taking a look at the photo slideshow below!