Rapid Assessment
Our preliminary rapid assessment was supported by a grant through the Great Lakes Protection Fund (GLPF) and developed in partnership with Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper (BNR). This rapid assessment approach was selected as a tool that might be used by other communities with limited resources to determine the extent of local fish consumption and develop appropriate outreach efforts.
The project was broken up into a literature review and four primary field work stages. Two summer interns – a University of Rochester undergraduate and a youth from the Rochester community – conducted most of the field work.
During the initial stages of the project, key informants (officials and community members who are familiar with fishing and consumption advisories in Rochester) identified popular fishing sites, common fishing patterns, and study design. COEC staff also visited fishing sites to observe and speak casually with anglers to get a sense of the number of anglers at each site and how many keep their catch.
The third and fourth field work stages involved conducting community surveys at public meetings and events and interviewing anglers at public fishing sites throughout the summer. The goal of these interactions was to characterized the extent of local fish consumption by Rochester anglers and their families as well as gauge general knowledge and beliefs about local consumption advisories.
Community Survey
Angler Interview Guide — Survey materials developed for our Rapid Assessment
Map of Interview Locations
Subsistence consumption of locally caught fish in Rochester, New York: 2009 Rapid Assessment Report
A selection of literature and outreach materials that were useful for our study