Typology of landowners in Norwegian salmon angling: attitudes towards river owner organisations and management actions

Abstract Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., recreational fisheries in Norway are facing shorter seasons and harvest restrictions because of low adult migration runs. Private fishing‐right holders (landowners) are important stakeholders, being co‐managers of the stocks, owners of salmon habitat and suppliers of angling. Landowners saw measures addressing salmon farming and Gyrodactylus salaris (Malmberg) as the most important management actions to strengthen stocks and downplayed actions restricting their own activity or gain. The results showed a need to build knowledge and improve communication between landowners and river owner organisations about the effects of stocking, catch and release, and other management actions. Four distinct landowner types were identified, based on their objectives for the fishing right. The diversity in the landowner group suggests managing angling tourism will be challenging, and cooperation is required to manage salmon stocks. Policy instruments to facilitate cooperation are discussed for each landowner type.