Footprints in the sand: Encounter norms for backcountry river trout anglers in New Zealand

Trout angling is generally thought of as a solitary experience and research has shown that non-catch related aspects of the experience (peace and solitude, the natural environment) are important, especially in backcountry settings. Concerns have been expressed about the ability of backcountry river fi sheries to cope with increased levels of use. High-spending short-stay anglers form a small but signifi cant niche tourism sector in a number of international settings.