1. South Florida has a significant number of recreational anglers, and some shore-based fishing sites overlap with habitat for juvenile manta rays. Although manta rays are prohibited from harvest in Florida, they are frequently seen foul-hooked or entangled in fishing line.
2. Recreational anglers (n = 198) were surveyed at piers and inlet jetties in Palm Beach County, Florida, USA to assess their knowledge of and actions and attitudes towards manta rays.
3. Analysis of the responses revealed that while most anglers could identify a manta ray (66.7%) and expressed no interest in casting at (93.4%) or catching a manta ray (95.5%), they lacked knowledge about threats to mantas, as well as their conservation and protected status. Surveyed anglers overwhelmingly supported manta ray conservation (82.3%) and environmental protection (98.0%).
4. Results indicate pier and inlet anglers are not using tackle strong enough to land a large ray to remove fishing gear, therefore it is recommended that outreach focuses on preventing recreational fishery interactions with manta rays, encouraging use of environmentally friendly tackle, and fostering engagement with anglers as citizen scientists.
5. These results can inform the design of outreach materials aimed at closing knowledge gaps and encouraging best practices. Positive attitudes towards the environment and existing neutral behaviours towards manta rays indicate an opportunity to shift the behaviour of shore-based anglers in this area in support of manta ray conservation.

中文翻译：

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对休闲垂钓者的调查揭示了佛罗里达州对蝠鲼保护的知识差距和积极态度

1. 南佛罗里达州有大量的休闲垂钓者，一些岸上的垂钓地点与幼年蝠鲼的栖息地重叠。尽管佛罗里达州禁止捕捞蝠鲼，但人们经常看到它们上钩或缠在钓鱼线上。
2. 在美国佛罗里达州棕榈滩县的码头和入口码头对休闲垂钓者 ( n = 198) 进行了调查，以评估他们对蝠鲼的了解、行为和态度。
3. 对回复的分析表明，虽然大多数垂钓者可以识别出蝠鲼 (66.7%) 并且表示对在 (93.4%) 或捕捉蝠鲼 (95.5%) 没有兴趣，但他们缺乏对蝠鲼威胁的了解，以及它们的保存和保护状态。接受调查的垂钓者绝大多数支持蝠鲼保育（82.3%）和环境保护（98.0%）。
4. 结果表明码头和入口垂钓者使用的钓具不够坚固，无法让大鳐鱼卸下渔具，因此建议外展活动侧重于防止休闲渔业与蝠鲼互动，鼓励使用环保钓具，并促进与垂钓者的互动作为公民科学家。
5. 这些结果可以为旨在缩小知识差距和鼓励最佳实践的外展材料的设计提供信息。对环境的积极态度和对蝠鲼现有的中立行为表明有机会改变该地区岸上垂钓者的行为以支持蝠鲼保护。