Minority Angling in Urban America:

Madison is a highly urbanized area that also includes a chain of four lakes (the Yahara Lakes) that are intensively fished by both recreational and subsistence anglers. Like all Wisconsin lakes, the Yahara lakes are on mercury advisories. Alongside a large number of mostly white sport-anglers (who primarily fish from boats), several minority groups, including Southeast Asians, African Americans, and Latinos, fish regularly along the shores of these lakes for food. Yet the perspectives of these anglers are rarely heard in government and academic discussions about fishing, fish consumption, and health risks. In this interactive workshop, minority subsistence anglers will share their perspectives about fish consumption and fish advisories in their communities. This workshop will give minority subsistence anglers a chance to voice their concerns and viewpoints on fish consumption and mercury advisories to scientists, academics, policymakers, and media, and to engage in interactive discussions with these audiences about these issues. Several minority anglers will share their perspectives, followed by an interactive “question-answer” discussion.

Pre-Workshop Hmong Dinner: Before the subsistence angler workshop, all conference attendees are invited to join us between 6-7pm for a free Hmong picnic dinner at the Brittingham Park Shelter, 617 North Shore Dr, within easy walking distance from Monona Terrace. Members of the Madison Hmong community will prepare traditional Hmong dishes, including fish dishes, to share with everyone. Please join us for good food and conversation!

Walking Directions to Brittingham Park Shelter from Monona Terrace: Go south along the lakeshore bike/walking path that runs in front of Monona Terrace. Take a right at the lights on North Shore Dr. and cross John Nolen Dr. into Brittingham Park. Follow the bike/walking path to the western end of the park, where you will see the Brittingham Park Shelter.

If you are interested in participating in this workshop and/or the pre-workshop dinner, please email your name and contact information to urg@mercury2006.org. Please indicate whether you will attend the dinner only, the workshop only, or both.