Fishermen lie about their catches -- scientific fact

I just came across an article in the journal Nature that claims to show that fishermen lie about their catchs, and the worse the fishing, the more we lie.

So tell us something we don't know!!

Here's the link, in case you are interested:

http://www.nature.com/nsu/021118/021118-5.html

very amusing.

I think the point that organisations are using catch reports instead of proper surveys, as a cheap option, is one worthy of note.

I have a T-shirt from Orvis that says across the back.....
"I fish, therefore I lie"
Amusing, but seemingly truthful to some.

My T-shirt says 'I fish, therefore I am'
Just about right.

This was a nib in the Daily Mirror a few weeks back.

Amusing, but I am a little puzzled. The article is talking about fisheries where fish can be taken or returned and suggests that if an angler catches fewer fish he/she will report more than are caught.

My own experience at trout fisheries some years ago was that anglers would tend to submit lower returns, for two reasons: one to try to con the fishery managers into increasing stocking frequencies/volumes and second because they were showing a limit bag but actually took more, they lied but not to exaggerate the numbers they took, quite the reverse! Odd - but then the report is from the other side of the pond.

On the other hand perhaps we need to start eyeing venue reports suspiciously :0)